insertable PCB contacts on carrier tape

Hello,

Is anyone using an SMT pick&place machine to insert single contacts into PC boards? I have some boards that have 32 female contacts for 1mm pins, and 16 contacts for 0.5mm pins. I have been using Mill-Max for these contacts, getting the small ones on plastic strips and the bogger ones loose. If I could get these contacts on a carrier strip, it is at least possible my P&P could insert them in the PCB, and they would be reflowed with the rest of the board. Mill-Max seems to not know much about this, and talk about $2000 tooling charges, etc. I'm still trying to find out whether the carrier tape they propose would have a cover tape, or the contacts would be a press-fit in the tape (typical for the contact industry). Obviously the SMT machine's vacuum would not be strong enough to pull the contacts out of the tape if they were a tight fit.

Thanks,

Jon

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