What is flying probe test in PCB

We have introduced several testing process and methods that was used in PCB manufacturing before like: Automatic Optical Inspection , Microsection testing, Measurement and functional test, today we will discuss about a kind of testing machine and ways that mostly used in the protype and Small to medium PCB production.

Firstly we would like you to know what is the flying prober tester

The flight probe tester is an automatic testing device ，the first batch of testers were introduced in around 1986, flying detector testers offer many advantages over others automated test equipment for specific applications. And now , the flight probe tester are widely used in various fields in the electronics manufacturing industry ，for example in PCB and PCBA Industry.

At the very beginning , the flight probe tester was mostly used in the testing of prototype and very small number of production areas. But as time went by Now the scope of use of this automatic test equipment has expanded a lot, although flying probe tester has not been main test for high capacity production, they have been in many fields.

How it works

Here we will introduce the working process of Flying prober tester in two differerent working parts , the first part is software and another part is for harware .

For Software

The tester should first convert the CAD (computer aided design) data provided by the engineer to the applicable file to implement the flight probe test programming. The newly generated file will then be the test procedure for run to pass a new file with the corresponding format. Finally, all the files will be created to meet the requirements and requirements of the UUT test.

For Hardware

After this process, The unit of the device under test will reach the internal tester through the conveyor field. the probe will then contact the through hole and the test pad to inspecte the defect on the units . It connects flying needles and drives like a signal generator and a power supply. Connections are made through multiplexing systems and sensors. digital multimeter, the frequency counter is utilized this sensing way to detect the equipment problem, when it tests the components, it will shield other components on the same unit from testing.

And after this twoprocess the problem on the parts will be found, for example short , open circuits ,componets values polarity ect.

What is the advantages and disadvantages of the flying probe testing？

Advantages：

Compare with the traditional testing , the flying testing of more flexible , costly and helps the engineer and manufacturers a lot in shorten the lead time for prototyping and small productions runs, in the past the engineer using several month to test and the operation is always difficult but with flying probe testing the test time are shorter and the machine and program is also easy to operate.

Disadvantages  

1 The speed of operation is always slow, since it need to test from point to point.

2 It always can not used in the complicated testing

3 It is not fits in the large scale and volume production.