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It was originally designed for plated-through-hole assembly methods, but more recently is being used as a compliant terminal where no solder is used or using through-hole-reflow techniques.

The design of the Kinky Pin combines low insertion force with high retention capability and this ensures that the pin is held securely and perpendicularly on the board. This is critical for the assembly of flexi-circuits to rigid boards as it allows the PCB to be flipped upside down for reflow soldering without the pin falling out. In addition, the slot produced by the kink enhances the wicking effect when soldering to create a better joint by reducing the risk of air pockets and dry joints.