Steve,

First we should refer to Flying Probe as an MDA Tester and Bed-of-Nails
as ICT.  Since technology changes dramatically, I'll say Flying Probe
testing is a non-powered up test that identifies Manufacturing Defects
(Analysis).  I believe there are one or two Test Manufacturers that have
developed powered flying probe testing.

From a Marketing point of view, you must thoroughly review the type of
Technology you produce today and 5 years from now, assuming you amortize
your cost as a purchase or a lease, your call.

What percentage of your business encompasses BGA?
How thorough are your customers in DFM and DFT?
How strong is your internal group for conducting and performing DFM and
DFT?
Are your customers on the cutting edge, to where there are diode
junctions in the BGA for capacitive coupling testing, in our case Delta
Scan?

40% of our sales come from BGA related products.  Of that a large
percentage being proto-types.  Make sure your customers know what to
expect when it comes to flying probe.

Are they willing to pay "X" cost for "X" test coverage?  Let us be
realistic on test coverage when it comes to High Tech PCAs and
Components.

Don't rule out test time.

Does your customer know that it could take 15, maybe 45 minutes to test
each assembly?
What's your hourly Burden Rate for Test?

Is Sales talking with Production Planning and Test when the order is
being quoted for Flying Probe Testing?  Is your customer going to be
able to provide you a Known Good Assembly for debug?  Do they or can
they easily provide an eBOM to minimize operator error on your end?

Things to think about.

John Gulley
Director of Technology and Marketing



-----Original Message-----
From: Stephen R. Gregory [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: Thursday, August 12, 1999 5:47 PM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: [TN] Automated X-ray Inspection(..and Flying Probe Testers)


In a message dated 8/12/99 8:36:50 AM Central Daylight Time,
[log in to unmask] writes:

> We bought a flying probe tester recently and we are know thinking of
> replacing the visual inspection by something automatic.

Hi Vincent!

I can't add much to what Dave Hillman said concerning X-Ray equipment
(he be
da' man!), but your statement about Flying Probe testers is what I'm
replying
to you about. If I may, can I ask you what machine you bought? And what
you
think of it so far?

I'm working on a "5-year Technology Roadmap" for our company, and a
Flying
Probe ICT machine is something that I'm recommending. Like you, we are a
high
mix low volume shop and from what I know so far, Flying Probe Testers
are the
way to go. Don't have the high NRE that a fixed bed of nails tester has
and
even if we do get into some volume in the future, I think the way to go
is
functional testing of product and then use the Flying Probe to de-bug
the
functional failures...am I thinking correctly in my recommendation? Any
other
input that any other TechNetter has on this subject will be (as always)
most
welcome!

Thanks Ya'll!!

-Steve Gregory-

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