Question Grinding down sharp spikes on PCIe card

[XLifted]

As all of us know many cards have those annoying sharp spikes on PCIe card (where there is no backplate.

Can I grind them down, or wire cutter them off?

I want to create a custom backplate, and that will help me as well. They are very sharp on my card (unlike in this picture)
It is not a gpu, it is a thunderbolt card that I want to bring it to uniform level. I am also catching a bunch of lint on them.

I know if I grind them down, they will not touch each other, I will then make sure to blow off the metal dust by duster hvac.

I am thinking electrically it won't make a difference, correct?

 

[Viking2121]

You can grind them down, but just avoid going to far, and of course its at your own risk. I've done similar before but im also not afraid to resolder something if I were to grind to far, I would also tape off aroudn the area just in case you slip, wouldn't want to damage the PCB beyond repair, snipping them probably wont get low enough and might even make them sharper. Even consider a old tooth brush or paint brush to dust off and stuff that might lodge itself somewhere.


Good Luck!

 

[XLifted]

You can grind them down, but just avoid going to far, and of course its at your own risk. I've done similar before but im also not afraid to resolder something if I were to grind to far, I would also tape off aroudn the area just in case you slip, wouldn't want to damage the PCB beyond repair, snipping them probably wont get low enough and might even make them sharper. Even consider a old tooth brush or paint brush to dust off and stuff that might lodge itself somewhere.


Good Luck!

Good idea! Thank you
Do you think spray paint is conductive in any way, if I was to spray paint the card into black color?

 

[Viking2121]

Good idea! Thank you
Do you think spray paint is conductive in any way, if I was to spray paint the card into black color?

I've never spray painted a PCB, but I do know Plasti dip works, its just a plastic pray, can't harm anything other than trap in heat so I wouldn't really use it if the card get pretty hot which I don't think them thunderbolt cards do.

 

[Misgar]

Whilst working in the electronics industry, I've never seen any production process where they grind down the ends of component leads. Mind you, most of my work was designing circuits and prototyping boards, so for all I know, it might be common practice.

If you want to reduce the length of the protruding leads, use a pair of precision side cutters. That's what I do after inserting the components on to a PCB and soldered the leads.

https://cpc.farnell.com/ck-tools/t3773ef/cutter-side-115-mm/dp/TL14002

If you grind down the leads, you could slip and cut through PCB tracks, or end up with metal dust hiding under components on the other side.

In addition to using a vacuum cleaner, I'd recommend thorough cleaning on both sides of the board with isopropyl alcohol to remove any traces of dust.

The link below describes the use of conformal coatings to protect PCBs and might give you ideas for "painting" your board.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Conformal_coating

If you do ruin the board, it looks cheap enough to replace without too much grief.