ECT's fixtureless PCB tester.

Eliminator 6 is a fixtureless tester for PCB panels. It can be used for electrical test of rigid PCBs, IC packages and PCB innerlayers.

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Designed for panel test, the system makes DC measurements and requires no mechanical setup.

By eliminating points that need to be tested by flying probe, the machine acts as a pre-screener, or turbocharger of sorts, for industry-accepted flying probe systems. It leverages probe advantages--no fixtures, quick test preparation and programming--while overcoming the historical weakness of probes, such as slow test times per PCB. In turn, it makes flying probes (used as part of the Eliminator test cell) suitable for high-volume and prototype electrical test.

The system scans PCB panels at up to 76.2 mm/sec. regardless of PCB density, test pad size and pitch, or number of PCB images per panel, providing increased speed and throughput rates. Typical resulting elimination rates of 85 to 92% per panel permits FPT test times of less than two min. per panel. For example, a specific IC package panel tested on an ATG A6/16 FPT took more than 70 min. Using the Eliminator 6, that same panel tested complete in 15.5 min., a 78% reduction in FPT test time and with no test tooling cost.

Eliminator 6 provides numerous cost benefits, with significant savings resulting from the elimination of test tooling and fixturing, especially for the most complex circuits. These savings include specific fixture material cost, assembly direct labor, related overhead and storage expenses associated with fixture tools. In factories that use flying probes, one Eliminator unit effectively increases the throughput for each of several FPT by three to four times. This significantly increases test capacity.

The test system makes Ohms law-based DC measurements for circuit continuity and isolation via mechanical contact between and within each circuit on the panel under test, resulting in consistent, high-quality tests. This is an industry accepted test measurement with no compromised methodologies. No toxic or hazardous materials are used, and there is no output from typical operation.

The machine makes it practical to perform an in-process electrical test on innerlayers prior to final sequential lamination. The system identifies electrical faults at the innerlayer level, saving lead times and preventing scrap.

By design, the system is user-friendly, running Windows XP Pro and featuring an intuitive software GUI. Additionally no mechanical setup is required. Ease of use and implementation are straightforward and simple for operators.

The tester uses robust, static-protected electronic switch cards, and a minimum of moving parts to aid system uptime and minimize routine maintenance and service. When service is required, all subsystems are accessible via removable chassis panels with detailed system documentation via ECT's ProWorks software.

The test system features an active elimination area of 610 x 914 mm, a maximum panel size of 610 x 914 mm, a minimum panel size of 330 x 330 mm and a scanning head size of 610 mm top and bottom. It provides a contact pitch of 115 [micro]m, contact compression of 2.45 mm maximum and a board thickness up to 6.35 mm.

Further useful specifications include electrical parameters consisting of a continuity range of 10 to 500[ohm], an isolation elimination range of 1 to 100 m[ohm] and a programmable voltage rate of 50 to 250V. Mechanical parameters include the smallest test pad being 50 [micro]m, mechanical test pressure of 3G/contact and an electromechanical scan speed of up to 7.63 mm/sec. The data input format is IPC-D-356A.

Featuring a 19" LCD touch-screen display, Eliminator 6 is compatible with multiple ATG test systems.