Save Money with Beer Ware, a Depletable CM4/5 Adapter

CM4/CM5 connectors fail after just ~80 insertions. At $35-150 per module, that adds up fast. That’s why we developed Beer Ware - a wear-and-replace adapter designed to take one for the team. It’s cheap, convenient to use, and can have a second life as a keychain bottle opener.

The Connector Math

CM4/CM5 modules use a Hirose DF40C-100DS-0.4V(51) connector. In our experience, it wears out after around 80 connections. That’s better than the 30 mating/unmating cycles that the vendor promises in the datasheet, but still not nearly enough. Testing 10,000 boards would destroy 125 Compute Modules. At $35 to $150 per module, you could be wasting tens of thousands of dollars.
With Beer Ware, you get the same connectivity. But instead of wearing out the expensive CM board, you sacrifice the cheap depletable adapter.

Built for Frequent Swapping

When you are swapping CMs a hundred times a day, the small things matter. With Beer Ware, you can remove the CM alone or together with the adapter without finger pinching or an awkward grip.
That’s because we added cutouts on the short edges (A) of the board for easy CM removal, and small tabs on the long edges (B) so you can easily pull out Beer Ware together with the module when needed.

Second Lives Aren’t Just for Cats!

After saving your Compute Modules and sacrificing its own connectors, Beer Ware can still serve you!
A perfect keychain for a true geek — compact, doesn’t tear your pocket, and always ready to open a bottle or two for you.