What is a PCB Card Guide?

Printed circuit board (PCB) card guides, also called PCB retainers, are short narrow strips of material formed into shallow tapered troughs. PC boards are inserted into the top of the trough while the bottom is secured to an enclosure wall. Most card guides secure the PCB in place through the use of pressure but some card guides utilize levers or screws to lock the PCB in place. Card guides are fabricated from a variety of materials including nylon, aluminum, beryllium copper, and stainless steel. By securing circuit boards in place, card guides prevent damage to PCBs caused by vibration and movement.

The Top Names in Card Guides

For many years Pentair, under their Schroff, Birtcher, and Calmark brands, has been the leading manufacturer of PCB card guides. In fact, many of their branded products such as Wedge Tainers, Lok Tainers, PCB Tainers, and Card Loks have become synonymous with PCB card guides.  Other top card guide manufacturers include Bivar, Essentra (formerly Richco), and Keystone Electronics.

Learn More About PCB Card Guides

Check out these helpful catalogs from Calmark, Birtcher, and Keystone to learn more about PCB card guides.  As always, bisco representatives are standing by to assist you in configuring products, locating crosses, and finding price and availability information.