• Reset your password
Home
We have the solution

Main navigation

  • Home
  • Products
    • Enterprise
    • Gallery
    • Gallery PreCAM
    • RapidCam
    • The Enterprise System
    • Feature comparison
    • Price list
  • Solutions
    • Panelization
    • Solder paste stencils
    • Assembly data
    • Depanelization
    • Prices and ordering
  • Downloads
  • Manuals
  • Support
  • Contact

Macaos Gallery 1.4 (August 2016)

Breadcrumb

  • Home
  • Macaos Gallery
  • What's new in Macaos Gallery
  • What was new in Macaos Gallery
  • Macaos Gallery 1.4 (August 2016)
  • Printer-friendly version

"Bed of Nails" test fixture creation

Test jig

A "bed of nails" test jig is used for in-circuit testing of a PCB with components. Typically, the jig consists of a bottom fixture with many spring-loaded test pins (pogopins) that are placed to make contact with test points on the PCB. An upper fixture presses the board onto the bed of nails so that all of the pins make good contact. A test program may then be run to confirm the operation of the PCB.

A test fixture is a plastic plate with holes drilled at each of the test point positions. Each test point hole will have a base (or receptacle) mounted in it. For each receptacle diameter, a spring-loaded pin head is inserted. You may choose from several different pin head styles, depending on the type of test point the pin will contact.

Test pin Test pin receptacle

Test Fixture Creator

Test fixture creator module

Open a PCB product in the test fixture creator module and specify the parameters of the fixture plate. Then click on holes to place alignment pins, and click on holes or pads to place test pins. Once all pins have been placed, adjust the position of the press point and then center the PCB under the press point. The published test fixture product includes a drill file for the fixture plate and wiring list documentation.

Top side fixture

Ideally, all of the test points should be on the bottom side of the PCB. However, if necessary, a top side fixture may also be created. If a test fixture already exists for a PCB, then you may choose to use that fixture to specify the placement of the PCB in the new fixture.

Test accessories

Test jigs, test pins and related accessories available for purchase from buy.macaos.com.

Viewer improvements

Lock cursor to axis

Press Alt+X or Alt-Y to lock the cursor position to the current X or Y coordinate. Press Esc to release the lock.

Get Macaos

Quick links

  • What is Macaos?
  • Product feature comparison
  • Macaos Enterprise (ME)
    • What's new in ME
    • Using ME
    • Get ME
  • Macaos Gallery (MG)
    • MG PreCAM
    • What's new in MG
  • Macaos in the news
  • Technical info for designers

Release notes

  • Macaos Enterprise
  • Macaos Gallery
  • Macaos Perception
  • Macaos Convergence

Macaos Software AS
Sanddalsringen 5b
N-5225 Nesttun
Norway

Gerber X2/X3

ODB++ Solutions Alliance

IPC Member Logo

Footer menu

  • Privacy policy
Powered by Drupal

Copyright © 2025 Macaos Software AS - All rights reserved