Any electronic project even if properly designed and built with utmost care is prone to bug and issues. It is very crucial to test the product or PCB thoroughly in early stages of design to ensure your projects goes well. The PCB testing can be done at PCB design level after using various design analysis techniques like EMI, Signal Integrity and Power Integrity ,the PCB design issues can be minimized. But how can you test the PCB once bare board PCB is in your hand or after PCB components assembly has been done? How can you make sure that there are no shorts, open or bad solder joints on the PCB? How to make sure current capacity, performance, component value and Impedance are within proper and expected tolerance level?

What Is PCB Test Jig and Fixture

Generally speaking, a test fixture or test jig is the component containing the bed of nails used for testing the PCB or assembled product. Some PCB test fixtures can be used for edge connector functional testing. A test jig is essentially a contraption that allows you to test many components of a board all at once.

These PCB testing fixtures can either be mechanically or pneumatically operated. The mechanical PCB test fixtures require the user to manually close the test fixture's top hat on the PCB, holding it into place. This activates the bed of nails, pressing it against the PCB. Due to the mechanism involved, the mechanical test fixtures are cheaper in comparison to the pneumatic test fixtures.

Specialized and custom designed PCB testing jigs and fixtures are used to test PCB. Testing point is identified and probed to identify the input to be given and output to be measured. A PCB testing jig can be identified as a device or machinery that holds a piece of machine work which nowadays comprised of much electronic intelligence and guides the tools operating on it. It should not be confused with PCB testing fixtures which are used to keep the object firmly in place. However, in PCB testing both the terms test jigs and test fixtures are interchangeably used as a electro-mechanical solution to test the printed circuit boards or PCBs. Custom-made PCB test jigs and test fixtures are made as per the application of the board to test its testing points.