What goes into a test fixture?


A test fixture consists of three components. The Mechanical Fixture, the Test Instrumentation, and the Test Software.  FixturFab's design platform has automated various design work related to each. We can design these either for small prototype runs or mass-production.

Typical lead-times and costs are summarized below.

Development

Production
Mechanical Fixture

1 - 2 weeks
$500 - $1000
~1000 cycles

4 - 8 weeks
$5000 - $10000
1M+ cycles
Test Instrumentation

Manually wired or integrated with a Test Point Carrier Board

Self contained in the fixture base or connect to a rack
Test Software

Basic Go-No-Go Scripts
1 - 2 weeks

Turnkey Production Suites
4 - 12 weeks (varies on complexity)

Gathering the Requirements


To start a project submit a Request For Quote. We'll ask for a combination of the following files.

Test Point List

  • Coordinates and type of test point each will probe

Gerber, ODB++, or IPC2581 manufacturing files of the PCBA

  • Used to confirm the mechanical feasibility of each fixture design

STEP file of the PCBA

  • Used to confirm the mechanical feasibility of each fixture design

Test Specification

  • An outline of the specific tests you would like to run and what the fixture will control and measure