What Is PCB Test Fixtures:
PCB Test fixtures are necessary to test PCB in UETPCBA Assembly. It is important to understand what pcb fixtures are, how PCB test fixtures are used, and why pcb boards need them before you start your next PCB project.
Purpose Of PCB Test Fixtures:
Establish Connection Between Equipment And Device:
The purpose of using a pcb test fixture during PCB board testing is to establish a known contact between the test equipment and the device under test (DUT). To accomplish this goal accurately, features must be added to the fixture that allows the electrical engineer to make the measurements to optimize results. It is used for pcb checks.
PCB Provide Mechanical Support:
PCB Fixtures also provide mechanical support, which can protect both personnel and devices when mounting devices onto test equipment.
Heat Dissipation:
Another function served by pcb test fixtures is heat dissipation. Not all electronic parts were created equal in this area! Some semiconductor devices require more heat sinking than the PCB they are mounted on can provide.
PCB Test Jigs
Testing a PCB manually is very error-prone and time-consuming. Furthermore, even if it got tested successfully, there are chances that the quality of soldering isn’t good enough to sustain everyday use.
There’s a solution for this problem: PCB Jigs. These little pieces help you to test your PCB boards under rigorously controlled conditions in minimum time with maximum reliability.
PCB Mechanical Testing :
For automated testing like checking the position of components like DIL switches or similar devices, you can either make something sturdy out of the stripboard or simply take advantage of existing pcb test jigs.
Solder Mask Tests :
A solder mask works as a protective topcoat for the exposed copper tracks of a PCB. The aim is to test whether there are any shorts between tracks, but not really to examine the quality of soldering underneath it.
For this purpose, you can make a dedicated pcb jig with a high wattage “hot air pencil” connected to your power supply – don’t use an actual soldering iron! You can also buy dedicated machines for pcb checking purposes from several manufacturers. Be aware that those companies define their machine as “solder mask tester,” but they still work as general SMD rework stations without having any built-in test capabilities! In addition, be sure that your particular hot air pencil is compatible with the solder mask you are going to use.
Component Position Checks :
This category includes checking,e.g., rotated DIL switch pins, misplaced SMD components, or similar mechanical errors arising during the production of your PCBs. While there are machines out there that are able to feed standardized test sockets, it’s relatively inexpensive to build your own jig for this purpose.
Solder Mask Defect Inspection :
The quality of solder masks cannot be judged by visual inspection only. For this purpose, the solder mask needs to be stripped off first and then inspected under a microscope.
How to Test PCB Board
There are several methods available for testing PCB. Testing PCB will use a circuit board tester. Some of them are discussed below:
In-Circuit Testing
In existence, it is the most robust type of PCB testing. The high price reflects that — tens, sometimes even hundreds of thousands of dollars per board depending on size and pcb fixture needed for a particular manufacturer’s specifications.
This test involves using fixed probes laid out in such a way they match the design layout of printed circuit boards (PCBs). Probes check durability with each individual solder connection point between them; there are access points pre-designed into boards where connections can be made directly by ICT testers after pushing it down onto specially designed tables–no need to remove parts ever again!
Automated Optical Inspection (AOI)
Another way to Test PCB is to use AOI. AOI can take photos of your board and then compare it to a detailed schematic. If AOI finds that there are traces on the PCB which do not match what is expected according to schematics, technicians will be notified for inspection purposes as well-saving time in shipping back production boards before they’re finished with them!
Burn-In PCB Testing
The last method of Test PCB is Burn-In Testing. This method is widely used by China PCB manufacturers and WOOPCB. The name suggests that burn-in testing is a more intense type of PCBs. It’s designed to detect early failures and establish load capacity, which makes it destructive for parts being tested in this process.
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