Molex is a large and well-known interconnect manufacturer with a wide array of offerings. One of them is 0008500105, a non-gendered contact for their KK series of rectangular housings. Recently, we’ve gotten a few questions concerning surface imperfections in the product such as nicks, scratches, or tarnish and whether any such imperfections mean the product is defective?
Unfortunately, there’s no step-by-step guide for determining if a product meets a minimum acceptability standard. There’s no official Molex standard for maximum allowable scratch length or depth, degree or area of tarnish, etcetera. Per conversation with the supplier, “small imperfections might be acceptable, any scratches or tarnish that could compromise the electrical or mechanical integrity and long-term reliability of the connection should be cause for concern.”
This is a case where testing and your best judgment should come into play, rather than rigorous adherence to standards. Parts bearing obvious severe damage should be scrapped, but minor dings and nicks that don’t look like they would significantly affect performance might be worth testing the product for, depending on your application needs.