PXI changes how manufacturers deploy ATE
By Gary Clayton, MAC Panel Company -- Test & Measurement World, 11/1/2008 2:00:00 AM
Experts involved in developing ATE (automated test equipment) applications cannot deny the revolution that has taken place since the introduction of the PXI platform. PXI, along with complementary software tools, now offers the opportunity to deploy functional test capabilities to electronics manufacturers in many more markets, yielding improved products and processes.
There are more than 1500 PXI instruments on the market, providing unprecedented configuration and performance possibilities. When coupled with software tools that simplify the process of integration, PXI-based ATE achieves ever-higher test coverage.
Test requirements vary by application and technology, but there are essential requirements common to all applications: comprehensive test coverage, ease of integration, and low initial and total life-cycle costs. I will focus here on ease of system integration and the associated positive impact on short- and long-term system costs.
The core elements that make up a typical functional ATE system include measurement instrumentation, signal switching, power sources, a software development environment, and a suitable electrical interface to bring the system resources to a single connection point for the unit under test—typically referred to as a mass interconnect. The ease with which a test system can be configured is largely governed by the instrument platform being used and the compatibility between the instrumentation and the available mass interconnects.
With the selection of instruments available for the PXI platform today, most system configurations can be housed in a PXI chassis, available in either a 3U or 6U form factor. By having all instrumentation and switching in one or more chassis, much of the rack size and system wiring associated with legacy platforms is eliminated. Mass-interconnect systems are offered in high-performance PCB (printed-circuit board) or traditional cable-connectivity formats.
Initial system configuration is just the start of the process. A good design will allow for future enhancements and upgrades. This is particularly true for the aerospace and defense markets, where system service will often exceed 20 years. The PXI platform has the resources and features necessary to make test system integration easy, robust, and reliable for the long haul.
Gary Clayton is the director of sales and marketing at MAC Panel Company in Macclesfield, England. gpc@macpanel.com.
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