Rich,
Clam shell testing is more involved than the bed of nails testing.
The bed of nails will give you a continuity comparison from board to board
SMT and thru hole.
This is the  more common and cost effective testing.
The clamshell which will test net points on each PCB seperately is
more extensive and used more for intricate multilayer PCBs....more
expensive.
The bed of nails testing also will give you surface mount reliability.
Hope this helps.


MIke Zepeda
HiTek National
817 Lacas St.  Bldg 3
DeKalb, IL 60115

815.756.8179

-----Original Message-----
From: Rich Klecka <[log in to unmask]>
To: [log in to unmask] <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Tuesday, October 30, 2001 12:14 PM
Subject: [DC] Testing of PC Boards


>What is the difference between bed of nails testing, clam shell testing,
>and SMT testing?
>I have a basic board that is ready for fabrication.  It is mostly
>surface mount with some through holes.  It has both analog and digital
>signals and no high speed.  Which test is best or least costly for this
>type of board?
>
>
>--
>Rich Klecka,  C.I.D.
>IPC Certified Interconnect Designer
>Electronic Packaging Specialist
>Fermilab
>P.O. Box 500,  M.S. 307
>Kirk & Wilson Roads
>Batavia, IL 60510
>[log in to unmask]
>630-840-3880 Phone
>630-840-8590 Fax
>Work hours: 8:00 - 4:30 Central Time
>
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