Texmac launches fixtureless testers at APEX
-- Test & Measurement World, 4/10/2008 9:36:00 AM
Texmac, the distributor of Takaya flying probers in North America, launched a new double-sided flying-probe system at the APEX trade show and also demonstrated a new low-cost fixtureless in-circuit tester, designed to complement AOI.
The Takaya APT-9600 has a total of six flying probes (four on top, two on the bottom), which move simultaneously over and under the board-under-test, providing flexible test access to PCBs when test points are available only on the bottom and improving test throughput.
"The APT-9600 addresses test coverage issues for boards with unique designs that have many components requiring simultaneous probe contact on both the top and bottom of the board," said Roy McKenzie, west region GM for Texmac's Takaya Group. "It also eliminates the need for a second test for boards that have many test points that are accessible from only one side of the board."
"The new APT-9600 uses the same X-Y moving mechanisms proven in the leading-edge Takaya APT-9411 on top, and this ensures high precision and stable probing contact at high speed," McKenzie continued. "By adding two flying probes and a CCD camera to the bottom side, Takaya has created a tester that can contact boards simultaneously from both sides. Building on its 20-year history as a leader in flying-probe technology, Takaya has given electronics manufacturers the most reliable and accurate advanced flying-probe tester on the market."
"This double-sided capability is also available to new and existing APT-9411 users as a retrofit," said McKenzie. "That means that people who have already invested in an APT-9411 or plan to invest in a high-performance flying-probe system now, but don't currently need double-sided probing, can purchase an APT-9411 with the confidence that they will be able to add this capability in the future if ever needed without spending the money today."
The four top side probes of the APT-9600 can be spaced as close as 0.18 mm (7.2 mil) to 0.2 mm (8 mil), enabling the tester to make contact on very small test lands of 0.5 mm (20 mil) with repeatable accuracy. This allows fault detection of smaller components such as 0201s. Minimum bottom-side contact pitch is 0.40 to 0.50mm.
Pricing for a standard configuration APT-9600 starts at under $400,000. Delivery is 90 to 120 days ARO.
APT-820S complements AOI
Texmac also demonstrated the APT-820S small, fast, and low-cost fixtureless in-circuit tester, designed to complement AOI in production environments. The APT-820 provides the accuracy, reliability, and fast program generation of its higher-performance Takaya siblings such as the APT-9411 and APT-9600, but is designed for electrical process-verification, complementing inspection tools such as AOI that are already being used in most lines.
"Electronics manufacturers can use the APT-820S in volume production either to sample a designated number of boards per lot or to focus in on specific areas of the board that have the highest probability of problems or the highest cost to diagnose," said McKenzie.
Designed to detect manufacturing defects on today's small and medium-sized PCBs, the APT-820S detects faulty placement of SMT components as well as shorts and opens. Even with just two independently moving probes, the tester can achieve a high-speed test similar to that of other systems with three or more moving probes. In addition, the APT-820S is cost-effective and has a small footprint to fit in tight spaces.
According to McKenzie, the APT-820S is suited to other applications in addition to process verification, such as low-volume production and high-board-mix prototypes, especially for lower-value-added products.
The standard tester is equipped with two top-side flying probes and two fixed bottom-side probes. Probes can be spaced as close as 0.2 mm (8 mil), enabling the tester to make contact on very small test lands of 0.5 mm (20 mil) with repeatable accuracy. This allows fault detection of smaller components such as 0201s.
A standard in-line PCB conveyor system and a sequencer with a touch-panel unit streamline integration into assembly lines. Other features include process management, visual test, and IC open measurement.
Pricing for a typical configuration would be around $150,000. Delivery is 30 to 60 days ARO.
See related article, "Goepel demonstrates boundary-scan on Takaya flying prober at APEX."
