A31 · Reference edition 2026.11
Contact pads — Definition and boundaries
Pad shape, material and replaceability affect the interface description. Record where the part touches rather than relying on a catalogue image.
Scope and purpose
Start by separating the named concept from adjacent concepts. Use the observation below to identify the question the record is intended to answer. Read the caution before applying the example. A definition is useful only when another reader can tell what falls outside it.
Working notes
This reference collection concerns light, offline dimensional-inspection layouts. It brings locating concepts, component descriptions and revision records together without substituting for an engineered fixture design. The drawings are original explanatory diagrams. Reference IDs identify documents, not commercially tested products. Read the scope and limitations alongside each example, and keep the actual part drawing and inspection requirements available when reviewing a proposed layout.
Practical example
Distinguish a flat, curved, annular or replaceable contact in the component record.
| Reference record | Interpretation |
|---|---|
| A31 | Contact pads |
| Scope and purpose | Pad shape, material and replaceability affect the interface description. Record where the part touches rather than relying on a catalogue image. |
| Limits and interpretation | Material compatibility requires knowledge of the actual part surface and conditions. |
Review checklist
Write a one-sentence scope statement; identify a neighbouring concept; record what the example does not establish.