Fixture Documentation

Technical documentation for FixturFab bed-of-nails test fixtures. Specifications, maintenance guides, and TPCB design guidelines.

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These guides cover the mechanical and electrical design of FixturFab bed-of-nails test fixtures. Start with specifications for dimensions and tolerances, or fixture types to compare tiers.

All fixture docs

Specifications & reference

Core specifications, fixture tier comparison, and glossary.

Fixture Specifications

Technical specifications for FixturFab test fixtures including dimensions, tolerances, materials, and mechanical properties by fixture tier.

Test Fixture Types

Compare FixturFab's fixture tiers to find the right balance of features, lead-time, and price for your testing requirements.

Terminology

Glossary of test fixture and PCB testing terminology. Common acronyms and fixture component definitions.

Probes & contact

Test probes, receptacles, multi-sided probing, and pressure application.

Selecting Test Probes

Select test probes for bed-of-nails fixtures. Match probe tip styles to pad types, understand spacing constraints, and choose probes for your needs.

Receptacles Guide

Technical guide to test fixture receptacles. Pitch options, collar heights, connection types, and drill size specifications.

Top and Side Probing Test Fixtures

Design considerations for dual-sided probing fixtures that contact test points on both sides of a PCB, plus side-actuated probing for connector interfaces.

Pressure Application

Methods for applying downward force to DUTs during testing. Pressure pins and pressure application pads for reliable probe contact.

TPCBs & signal routing

Test probe circuit board design, signal routing, and feedthrough connections.

TPCB Design Guidelines

Guidelines for designing consigned TPCBs (Test Probe Circuit Boards) for FixturFab fixtures. Mechanical requirements, signal routing, and connector placement.

Test Point Carrier Boards

Design guide for Test Point Carrier Boards (TPCBs). Routing test signals, development vs. production variants, and design resources.

Feedthrough Plates

Customizable feedthrough plates for test fixture instrumentation connections. Available models, customization paths, and design guidance.

Fixture hardware

Bases, cartridges, DUT positioning, switches, and detection systems.

Fixture Bases

Overview of FixturFab test fixture bases including development fixtures and Ingun production fixtures. Specifications, dimensions, and capabilities.

Fixture Cartridges

Replaceable test fixture cartridges for rapid fixture updates. Development and Ingun ATS cartridge options with cycle life ratings.

Exchangeable Test Fixture Cartridges

How exchangeable cartridges let a single fixture base test multiple PCBAs. Cartridge options by fixture tier, cost benefits, and ordering process.

DUT Locating

Methods for accurately positioning PCBAs in test fixtures. Guide pins, tooling pins, and custom cradles for reliable DUT alignment.

DUT Presence Detection

Safety and operational system for detecting Device Under Test presence in fixtures. Switching probes, integration with TPCBs, and troubleshooting.

Fixture Switches

Switches for detecting fixture closure and ensuring proper DUT seating. End-stop, probe, stroke, inductive, and safety switch options.

Design guides

Tier-specific design guidelines and manufacturing specifications.

Development Test Fixtures Guide

Leverage affordable, quick-turnaround fixtures for testing early revisions of your circuit boards during prototyping, EVT, and DVT phases.

Dev Fixture Guidelines

Design best practices for FixturFab Dev series test fixtures. Guide pins, pressure pins, receptacles, and assembly specifications.

Dev Pro Fixture Guidelines

Design best practices for FixturFab Dev Pro series test fixtures. Guide pins, pressure pins, Centalic receptacles, and assembly specifications.

Ingun Fixture Guidelines

Design best practices for Ingun production test fixtures. Guide pins, receptacles, probe selection, and professional fixture configuration.

Manufacturing Guide

CNC machining specifications for Ingun cartridge fixtures. Drilling operations, pocketing parameters, and tooling guidance.

Maintenance & validation

Routine upkeep, replacement parts, and fixture testing procedures.

Fixture Maintenance

Care and upkeep guides for FixturFab test fixtures. Probe replacement, cleaning procedures, and troubleshooting for maximum fixture lifetime.

Dev Pro Maintenance

Maintenance guide and replacement parts for FixturFab Dev Pro test fixtures. 3D printable components and service information.

Fixture Validation

How to validate mechanical test fixtures with Auto-TPCBs. Probe contact testing, electrical conductivity verification, and troubleshooting.

For test automation software, our open-source tools include pytest-f3ts for test orchestration and f3ts-hardware-utils for instrument control. The how-to guides cover test point placement, fixture selection, and building a test plan.

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