This website uses cookies to implement certain functions. If you use this website you agree to our Privacy Policy.
News and Information about the Test of Electronics in Research & Design, Production, Maintenance, and Installation.  

Newsletter

Register to our newsletter
Every two weeks -
all news at a glance
captcha 

Latest Test and Measurement News

Flying Probe Tester for unpopulated Boards

HIOKI FP181624 July 2019 - Hioki launched the Flying Probe Tester FA1816, an automatic testing system designed to inspect printed wiring on bare board. This horizontal, two-arm unpopulated board testing system is ideal for conducting shipping inspections of multi-model, small-lot, short-lead-time products. It uses Hioki’s capacitive testing method, which slashes testing times by making pass/fail judgments for unpopulated boards with a small number of test points.

The FA1816 also features an updated test data creation process. The control screens and software used by the previous model (the Flying Probe Tester FA1116-03) have been revamped to deliver improved operability and reduced operator workload.

Development Background

Printed circuit boards (PCBs) onto which electronic components have been mounted can be found in industrial equipment, automotive devices, consumer electronics, and other products, where they play an extremely important role by providing device operation and control functionality. To ensure their electronic components function properly, bare boards must exhibit high quality and reliability.

Despite a reputation for unparalleled test quality, Hioki received customer feedback indicating a desire for simpler operation, for example in the test data creation process. As a result, the company revamped control screens and software during the development of the FA1816 to deliver improved operability while reducing the operator workload.

Key Features

  1. Revamped operation for significantly improved operability

Screens: Important information has been consolidated on a single screen, and a graphical interface allows intuitive operation.

Control: A workflow menu is now available to streamline the test data creation process.

Master data creation: Previously, operators had to carry out a variety of steps, including acquiring basic data and qualifying a sample board as a reference master, in order to create the master data that serves as the standard for pass/fail judgment. The FA1816 automates this process so that the operator need only click a single button, shortening control time and reducing operator workload.

  1. High-speed pattern testing using the capacitive testing method

Two test methods—capacitive testing and resistance testing—are used to test unpopulated circuit boards. The FA1816 uses the former, which allows pass/fail judgments to be made with fewer test points than the latter. Consequently, tests can be completed more quickly.

  1. Half the Probe Mark Depth

Traditionally, probes are placed in contact with the board to carry out bare board testing in a process that leaves probe marks on the board. On high-density bare boards, even small marks can have a serious effect. Probe marks from the probes of previous products were already slight, but the FA1816 uses the High-density Probe CP1072, which was developed using proprietary Hioki technology, in order to further reduce the size and depth of these marks. Probe mark depth has been halved compared to that of previous products to minimize damage to bare boards.

  1. Support for a broad range of testing scenarios, from low-resistance measurement to high-insulation-resistance measurement, despite use of the faster capacitive testing method

Hioki has taken advantage of its exceptional technological capabilities in the areas of low-resistance measurement and insulation resistance measurement to deliver the ability to measure low resistance as well as high insulation resistance of 500 MΩ/250 V. This capability makes it possible to detect causes of latent defects on unpopulated boards that would go undiscovered by systems that use only capacitive testing, delivering a superior level of quality.

The FA1816’s low-resistance measurement functionality measures minuscule fluctuations in resistance values to detect open-via defects. By means of its high-insulation-resistance measurement capabilities, the system also detects insulation abnormalities and arc discharge phenomena caused by the effects of pattern shape anomalies and impurities, voids, and other defects that exist between patterns.

  1. Defect analysis with the newly developed Process Analyzer (a standard accessory)

The Process Analyzer software application makes it easy to load accumulated test results data in a batch and then create statistical data from it. Test step results can be visualized using such means as value changes, histograms, and distribution maps to facilitate analysis of defects. By generating information about analyzed defects that can be provided as feedback to design and manufacturing processes, the Process Analyzer helps customers improve yields in bare board manufacturing.

www.hioki.com/



Related Articles:

Upcoming Events

Embedded World 2024
Nuremberg (Germany)
09 to 11 April
Control 2024
Stuttgart (Germany)
23 to 26 April
Automotive Testing Expo Europe 2024
Stuttgart (Germany)
04 to 06 June

  More events...
  See our Trade Show Calendar
  Click here

 

Advertising
Advertising