Start a connector RFQ by distinguishing purchasing an identified item from searching against requirements. The first task centers on orderable identity and delivery conditions; the second also needs mating, mounting and electrical constraints. A useful attachment answers a defined question rather than merely increasing the file count.
1. Identify the type of request
For a known item, provide the manufacturer and full orderable number, including suffixes, and state the required mating components. Hirose, JST and Samtec documentation illustrates ordering options, separate components and mating relationships; a family name alone may not define a purchasable connection.[1][2][3]
For an unknown item, label the request as requirement-based selection and identify whether the PCB is new or fixed. Photographs and samples can support identification, but visual similarity is not a confirmed part number. Replacing an existing design also requires change constraints, which belong in the alternative-assessment information pack.
2. Assign drawings to mating and installation questions
Provide separate information for the mating end, PCB footprint, enclosure space and assembly direction. An FPC request needs the flexible mating-end drawing; wire-to-board needs housing, terminal, header and wire information; board-to-board needs both parts and the board relationship.[1][2][3]
Drawings should show units, datums, critical tolerances and revision. Photos explain position and context but do not replace controlled dimensions. A cropped illustration should retain its source and viewing context so it does not conceal a critical reference.
3. Distinguish unknowns from unrestricted choices
State operating voltage, current, simultaneous loading and any relevant signal requirements. Mechanical inputs should identify pitch, positions, direction and available space. Add environmental, assembly and service constraints, distinguishing mandatory conditions from negotiable preferences.
“Unconfirmed,” “not required” and “supplier may propose” are different states. Do not use a blank field to let another party infer permission. Nor should unapproved numbers be inserted merely to complete a form.
4. Connect RFQ fields to attachments
| Information group | What to state | Useful attachment |
|---|---|---|
| Task | Known purchase, identification or new selection | Original BOM, label or existing number |
| Identity | Manufacturer, complete number and component scope | Datasheet and ordering information |
| Mating side | Counterpart, flexible circuit or harness | Mating drawing, end drawing and pin assignment |
| Board/mechanics | Pads, mounting face, direction and space | Local PCB and mechanical drawings |
| Operation | Load, temperature, handling and signals | Operating-condition statement |
| Stage/commercial | Sample and production quantities, target timing | Phased demand and delivery requirements |
| Documentation | Labels, batch information or specific records | Required format and intended use |
Use the table for an initial inquiry. Confirm permission before sharing internal design information; an RFQ does not require unrestricted disclosure of the customer's full design.
5. Explain what the samples will verify
Relate sample quantity to the intended assembly, electrical or other checks. Confirm whether samples represent the proposed production part, material and revision, and distinguish packaging differences from changes that affect verification.
Keep a sample acknowledgement recording exact identity, quantity, identifiable batch or marking, attachment revisions, planned checks and feedback owner. Resolve discrepancies before testing rather than letting receiving or test personnel choose an identifier. Receipt of samples is not production approval.
6. Ask for a structured response
A useful response separates confirmed identity, missing information, proposed candidates, quoted accessories and delivery conditions. Differences in suffix, packing, component scope or timing should be explicit rather than hidden in general remarks.
Send MISUXIN the confirmed information and identify the gaps. A successful RFQ is not necessarily a form without blanks; it is a shared understanding of established facts, candidate suggestions and the next actions required.
References
[1] Hirose. FH12 Series — product catalog, D31648_en. Specifications, ordering information, FPC/FFC dimensions and recommended PCB mounting patterns.
[2] JST. XH Connector — product catalog. Ratings and specifications; contact, housing and header tables. Revision not independently identified.
[3] Samtec. QSH product and mating documentation. Prints and footprints, full mated sets and configuration-specific test reports.
Related reading K10 · S01 (earlier) · A02 (earlier)
Sources checked: 19 September 2026. Templates and conceptual relationships are editorial aids; confirm individual applications against manufacturer documents and project conditions.