Sierra Circuits Provides Flying Probe Testing Services for PCB Assemblies

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Sierra Circuits, a provider of PCB fabrication, assembly, and testing services for quick-turn and production electronics manufacturing, provides flying probe testing services to test PCB assemblies based on board accessibility.

Flying probe testing is a part of PCB assembly that uses test probes that traverse the board to detect defects. Sierra Circuits uses Seica Spa Pilot V8 machines for flying probe testing. The flying probe tester can test for shorts, opens, and component values such as resistance, capacitance, and inductance.

A feature of flying probe testing is its fixtureless nature during in-circuit testing, eliminating the need for custom fixtures. This supports the testing process and allows use in prototype development and low to mid-volume production. The absence of custom fixtures allows the testing workflow to adapt to different PCB assembly requirements.

Sierra Circuits generates a test program that is loaded into the flying probe tester. The circuit board assembly is placed on a conveyor belt to move inside the testing area, where probes are present. During testing, probes contact component pads, test pads, and unmasked vias as per the pre-loaded test program. The tester applies electrical test signals and power to probe points and performs measurements. These measurements are processed inside the tester to determine whether the circuit portion between probes delivers results within specified tolerances to identify defective units.

The flying probe tester hardware includes signal generators, DC and AC power supplies, and sensors that provide signals to excite PCB nodes and enable measurements on component nodes, interconnections, and assembled circuits. The hardware also includes a camera that inspects component polarity.

Sierra Circuits recommends flying probe testing for customers developing dense and complex boards to test PCB assembly quality and support time-to-market requirements. Flying probe testing supports small to medium production runs and assists R&D teams in validating electronics during PCB assembly.

Sierra Circuits identifies testing capabilities, including access to smaller pads compared to in-circuit testing using pogo pins, software-based probe movement and landing position control for different testing strategies, and direct access to component pins through automated probing without requiring dedicated test points, enabling broader test coverage compared to ICT.

Click here to learn more about the flying probe testing.