Test equipment for PCB functional testing
We build the fixtures these instruments connect to. Every testing device in our shop has been used in real test systems — verified for compatibility with FixturFab fixtures and supported by our open-source testing frameworks.
What makes up a functional test system
A functional test system has three layers: the fixture, the instruments, and the software that ties them together. The fixture (a bed-of-nails jig) makes physical contact with your circuit board. The instruments supply power, take measurements, and program firmware. The software orchestrates the sequence — power on, measure, program, verify, report.
Most PCB test systems start with three instruments: a programmable power supply, a digital multimeter (DMM), and a programmer for your target MCU. That combination handles 80% of functional test requirements.
Add a DAQ module when you need multi-channel analog capture, or a logic analyzer when your board has digital interfaces (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN) that need protocol-level verification.
The instruments you see below are the ones we stock because we use them. They ship from stock, and fixtures arrive in 2–3 weeks — so you can have a complete test station running in under a month.
Choosing instruments for your test plan
| Instrument | You need it when… | Typical first pick |
|---|---|---|
| Power supply | Every functional test (you need to power the DUT) | Rigol DP832 (3-channel, programmable) |
| DMM | Voltage rail verification, resistance checks, continuity | Keithley DAQ6510 or Rigol DM3058E |
| Programmer | Board has an MCU or EEPROM that needs firmware | Segger J-Link (ARM, RISC-V) |
| DAQ module | Multi-channel analog measurement, sensor readback | Acroname MTM-DAQ |
| Logic analyzer | Digital protocol verification (I2C, SPI, UART, CAN) | Saleae Logic Pro |
If you're unsure which instruments your test plan requires, our testing methods guides walk through equipment requirements for different testing approaches. And if budget is a concern, our guide to low-cost test fixture instrumentation covers how to build a capable station without overspending.
How we select test equipment
We don't carry a wide catalog. We carry instruments we've used, integrated, and can support. Every testing device in the shop meets four criteria:
Every instrument supports SCPI commands over USB, Ethernet, or both. No proprietary protocols, no vendor lock-in. You send a command, the instrument responds. Our open-source library f3ts-hardware-utils already has drivers written for each one.
We've written and tested the Python driver for every instrument we sell. When you install f3ts-hardware-utils, it includes wrappers, examples, and configuration templates. You spend your time writing test logic, not debugging instrument communication.
Bench-grade instruments work fine for debugging. For production testing — where you're making pass/fail decisions on boards you ship to customers — measurement accuracy, repeatability, and long-term stability matter. The instruments here are selected for that standard.
Test equipment pricing varies enormously. We stock instruments that hit the performance threshold for production functional testing without the premium that comes with brand names you'd find in a calibration lab. Most teams can outfit a complete test station for $3,000–$8,000 in instruments.
Two paths to a working test system
Most engineers visiting this page fall into one of two categories:
Buy a fixture, add instrumentation, follow our testing resources. You own the system, you control the timeline. Fixtures arrive in 2–3 weeks, instruments ship from stock. This is the path most of our customers take — and the instruments below are what we recommend.
If self-integration isn't viable for your team — whether due to engineering resources, timeline, or complexity — we can scope a complete solution. We'll start by evaluating whether our open-source frameworks and standard instruments cover your requirements before moving to custom system engineering.
Equipment categories
We stock programmable power supplies, DMMs, programmers, data acquisition (DAQ) modules, and logic analyzers — the electronic testing and measuring instruments that make up a functional test station.
Programmers
Microcontroller and EEPROM programming tools for automated testing. Segger J-Link, production programmers, and gang programming solutions.
View programmersPower Supplies
Programmable DC power supplies for automated functional testing. Single and multi-channel supplies with remote control capabilities.
View power suppliesDigital Multimeters for PCB Testing
How to test a circuit board with a multimeter, what to measure, and when to move from manual to automated DMMs. Bench, system, and scanning options.
View digital multimeters for pcb testingLogic Analyzers
Digital logic analyzers and protocol analyzers for debugging and testing digital circuits. USB-based analyzers with protocol decoding.
View logic analyzersData Acquisition
Data acquisition modules and systems for sensor measurement and analog I/O in automated testing. USB and Ethernet DAQ hardware.
View data acquisitionOn a tight budget? Our guide to low-cost test fixture instrumentation covers how to build a capable test station without overspending.
Why buy test equipment from a fixture company
You can buy the same Rigol power supply from Digi-Key or Amazon. Here's what you won't get there: someone who's already tested it with a bed-of-nails fixture, written the Python driver, and published the integration code.
We build the fixtures these instruments connect to. That's a different relationship to the hardware than a distributor has. When you buy a DMM from us, it's the same DMM we use when we build test systems. The FixturCtrl hub and FixturIO module are instruments we designed ourselves. Our open-source libraries — pytest-f3ts and f3ts-hardware-utils — include wrappers, utilities, and example code for every instrument we stock. They handle the low-level communication so you can focus on test logic, not instrument plumbing.
The result: you get a pre-tested combination of fixture, instruments, and software framework — not a collection of theoretically compatible parts you'll spend weeks integrating.
Most of our customers start with a Dev or Dev Pro fixture and a basic instrument set, then scale to Production fixtures and additional test stations as their volumes grow. The instruments and frameworks stay the same across that progression — what changes is the fixture tier and the number of stations.
For detailed setup and integration guides, see our equipment documentation. Or explore our open-source tools to see the framework that connects everything.
Frequently asked questions
Your test station starts with a fixture and three instruments
Browse our test equipment catalog or configure a fixture in Studio. Fixtures arrive in 2-3 weeks, instruments ship from stock.