Flying Probes Not Dead Yet

May 29th, 2006

Apparently, flying probe testers are alive and well, even in this era of extremely fine lead pitches.

Vierling Production, Ebermannstadt, Germany, is investing a six-digit sum into a new automated quality assurance system. The newly acquired flying probe system from Digitaltest will help the electronics manufacturer to quickly and reliably check the quality of printed circuit boards (PCBs) made in its plant in Ebermannstadt, Germany. The plant provides electronic manufacturing services to more than 40 companies in the information technology, aviation, aerospace and automotive sectors. Vierling Production will also use the new system to offer test services to other electronics manufacturers.

The system uses four thin probes that fly from component to component in fractions of a second. The probes trace out a precisely programmed path as they test the components and solder joints one after another. Individual test points can be tracked with a maximum accuracy of 75 micrometers. A micrometer is one thousandth of a millimeter.

Until now, Vierling Production had to have expensive vacuum adapters with up to 800 fixed measurement pins made externally to perform the necessary in-circuit tests. These could take up to six weeks to obtain. Comparatively, the company can create a test program for the flying probe tester in two to three days. Another alternative is an automatic optical inspection (AOI). While the flying probe system is somewhat slower than an AOI system, you can make electrical measurements with it. This is a real advantage in many applications.

Entry Filed under: Electronics Test