Custom Interconnect Installs Second TAKAYA APT-1400F Flying Probe Tester, 'CoverageXpert' Test Software Option

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Custom Interconnect Ltd has further invested in another TAKAYA APT-1400F Flying Probe Test machine from Accelonix Ltd to compliment the first TAKAYA APT-1400F that they installed in late 2018. This second system will further enhance CIL’s capacity and its technical capability to test 0201 based electronic assemblies which make up the majority of its manufacturing.

As part of the deal with Accelonix Ltd, CIL traded in its older TAKAYA APT-9401 and APT-9411 systems as they found these slightly older generation machines do not have the precision for reliably testing 0201 based assemblies. Having two APT-1400F systems also brings added benefits to CIL existing customers for production capacity and disaster recovery. As well as now having two APT-1400F test systems, CIL also recently added to the capability of its existing “Test Expert” software package to include “CoverageXpert” option for machine generated test reports.

The APT-1400F is the very latest machine from TAKAYA and is complete with 4 tilted contact probes, 2 vertical contact probes, and 2 IC-open check probes. The APT-1400F system also has a powerful optical recognition system for reliable and precise automatic optical testing. The optical system detects missing, offset or polarity-reversed components and thus increases the test coverage for the components that cannot be tested using an electrical test. The camera also records 1D and 2D barcodes and includes these in the test reports. Measurement and assignment of the results without gaps are thus always guaranteed, which assists with CIL’s AS9100 and ISO13485 customer requirements and for its increasing Automotive based BEV customers. As well as giving its existing customer base increased capacity, these machines will also be used to support CIL’s @FutureBEV and GaNSiC automotive development programs. These new APT-1400F is not only more advanced than CIL’s two existing TAKAYA APT-9400 flying probe systems, but its newer design has resulted in it testing at least twice as fast as either of our existing systems. So even though CIL is going from three TAKAYA’s down to two systems due to the fact the APT-1400F is actually twice as fast as the outgoing APT-9400 systems, CIL are actually doubling its flying probe capacity.

To program the machines CIL deploys SIEMENS “Test Expert” software tools and also recently enhanced this capability with the addition of the “CoverageXpert” option package. Test Expert is the most widely used test programming and design for test (DFT) software application in the electronics manufacturing industry today. Test Expert is a fully integrated solution that allows electronics manufacturers to go from design to test and inspection in a matter of minutes or hours, rather than days. With its fast, user-programmable nail/probe selection routine and complementary interactive tools, Test Expert offers complete flexibility and control during fixture design for in-circuit test (ICT) and advanced flying probe selection.

Test Expert’s workflow-driven user interface allows you to follow all the steps required for full programming and fixture generation, or just the steps necessary for fast DFT results. The workflow guides you through the test/inspection processes starting with computer-aided design (CAD) data and bill of materials (BOM) input, through probe selection and fixture design, to program generation. This ensures that the same, tested procedures are used repeatedly to reduce errors and improve accuracy and productivity. “CoverageXpert” is an interactive analysis tool that maps inspection and test coverage for individual components on a board and produces a detailed report for feedback to design, customer and for Traceability records.

CIL is also further investing in all areas of its business to support its continued growth. But to reliably produce 0201 based products, CIL has had to invest in the following equipment 

• 3 - DEK Horizon 03iX Solder printers complete with 100% “Hawkeye” print inspection
• 3 - MYCRONIC MY300 SMT placement machines
• 2 - Koh Young Zenith2 3D Automatic Optical Inspection (AOI) with 15um cameras
• 2 - Automatic conveyor systems for 3D AOI systems
• 1 - DAGE QUADRA 5 X-Ray / CT Scan Inspection system
• 1 - LPKF 2110P Laser PCB depaneller system
• 1 - ASSCON 6000 Vacuum Assisted Vapour Phase Reflow system

There are more investments to follow over the next 2 months as CIL continues to invest for its customers.