Flying probe testing is a PCB and PCA test that uses a probe on a mechanical arm to test all parts and ensure they are present and functional. It is more versatile than the bed of nails test and can be programmed easily. It is used primarily in manufacturing plants and can verify correct production using a camera. It is easy to program and can integrate with CAD programs.
A flying probe test is a type of printed circuit board (PCB) or printed circuit board assembly (PCA) test that uses a probe mounted on a mechanical arm. One of the main advantages of using a flying probe test instead of a bed of nails test is that the probe can go just about anywhere. In addition to testing current, the probe also ensures that all parts are present and none have failed. These units can usually integrate with computer aided design (CAD) programs and are made to work with a limited number of parts, so they are usually easy to program.
Flying probe testing is primarily used in manufacturing plants that create PCBs and PCAs, although it can be used for other electronic devices. This test consists of a probe flying around the unit and using a needle to test various parts of the unit. In this way, it allows manufacturers to ensure that all drives are functional before they are shipped.
Competing with the flying probe test as a primary test standard is the bed of nails test. This uses a bed of electronic needles, as the only needle on the probe, to push a current through the unit to ensure it works. While the bed method can test a large area at once, it’s limited to flat units, because the bed can’t maneuver around corners or curves. A probe is able to move around, because it’s on one arm, so it can easily scan every area of the unit. To speed up the workflow, two or three probes are usually used simultaneously.
While it’s important to ensure that the unit can conduct electricity correctly, there’s another matter that’s just as important: the parts. Some parts can fall during production, either because they are improperly fixed or because moving and moving from production has shaken them. Using a camera and other test equipment, the flying probe test can also verify the correct production.
Flying probe testing is usually used on common PCBs and PCAs, and this information will be stored in the probe software. This means that programming the probe to test certain areas is usually easy and requires little coding. While the unit is completely unique, most probes can integrate with CAD programs and the user can tell the probe what areas to check from there.
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