Flying Probe Tester: How to Choose the Best One

In the manufacturing and assembly process of printed circuit boards, ensuring product quality is the primary concern of manufacturers. Whether testing bare boards or assembled PCB components, choosing the right flying probe tester is critical. A suitable flying probe tester can save test time, reduce production cost and improve test accuracy.

What is Flying Probe Testing?

In PCB manufacturing and assembly, flying probe testing is a non-contact testing method for electronic boards that can test open circuits, short circuit s, component orientations, and other problems in electronics located in the circuit board, especially for SMD components. In this method, a flying probe machine tests the connection by contacting test points on the test area of a circuit board with a series of test probes.

A software program in the flying probe tester controls the motion of the probes and the test points to be tested. This method is generally used in prototype or low-volume situation because it may be not cost-effective to build dedicated test fixtures for ICT testing.

Flying Probe vs ICT

Both flying probe testing and ICT testing are used for quality control in PCB assembly, but they differ in their methods and features. ICT testing uses custom ICT fixtures to contact circuit boards with test points. Each fixture is tailored to a specific design and board type, making it ideal for testing large numbers of identical boards in mass production.

In contrast, flying probe testers offer a more flexible and cost-effective solution for low to medium volume production. The flying probe tester can be quickly adjusted to suit different board designs and sizes and provides extremely accurate test coverage, even on boards with complex designs or irregular test points. Flying probe testing is especially important for side board that require frequent design changes.

Let’s compare flying probe vs ICT in a chart below.

How to Choose the Best One for PCBA Manufacturing

Selecting the right flying probe tester involves evaluating several factors to match your manufacturing needs:

1. Test Coverage

Ensure the flying probe tester provides comprehensive test coverage, including:

• Contact testing for all test points on the circuit board.

• Compatibility with SMD components and double-sided circuit boards.

• Capability to handle various board dimensions.

2. Cost Effectiveness

A flying probe tester should offer cost-effective solutions by eliminating the need for expensive ICT fixtures. This is especially important for small production runs or when testing PCB assemblies with unique designs.

3. Versatility

Look for a flying probe machine that can:

• Test either side of the circuit board.

• Adapt to both bare boards and fully assembled PCB assemblies.

• Support complex circuit board designs with minimal test points.

4. Test Program Efficiency

The test program should be easy to configure and capable of adapting to various board dimensions. This ensures accurate and efficient flying probe testing for all types of PCBs.

5. Reliability

Choose a flying probe tester known for precision and reliability in detecting faults on printed circuit boards. High-quality machines will provide better test coverage and improve overall manufacturing quality.

PCBasic: A Leading PCBA Manufacturer with Advanced Flying Probe Testers

PCBasic offers a full range of assembly services, including two-sided, three-layer and multilayer PCB assembly, flexible board (FPC) assembly, HDI high-density interconnect board assembly, and high-frequency board assembly. At the same time, PCBasic also provides SMT and DIP hybrid assembly, providing precision electronics assembly, automated production line assembly and PCB assembly services for various package types.

Through the introduction of advanced flying probe testing, PCBasic ensures the high-quality standards of every circuit board to meet the needs of various electronic products, including medical, communications, consumer electronics, aerospace and other industries, providing customers with better quality and more reliable products.