Charles,

> If you're making something in large qty. how do you allow
> for ICSP at lowest cost?
[snip]
> Has anyone used a probe with pins like this
>(http://www.emulation.com/catalog/pogo/) to program PICs?

Probes like the ones shown are available from many
sources (google on "in circuit test pins" or similar).
Typically a test fixture is created that aligns the board
to be programmed (or in circuit tested) with the pins.
A rubber type sheet is then laid over the top of the
board and a vaccum is applied that pulls the board
down onto the pins.  I suppose that if it is a small board,
a mechanical only holddown might work.  To speed
up processing many units, fixtures are sometimes setup
in multiples, i.e. 3 or 4 boards are placed in the fixture
at the same time and are then gang programmed. One
great advantage to using pins is that you don't need
to route all the programming pins to an edge or even
to a connector field.  Typically, the pins are just
set so that they push against a test point anywhere
along the required circuit trace, usually at a
feedthru that is already needed for normal circuit layout.

>
> How about running traces to the side of board
> and plugging it into something like a PC ISA or PCI connector?
>
This is also done, however it is not a preferred method.
First off, the connectors will start to wear out rather
quickly in a production environment.  To use this
approach, you would need to make up a set of sacrificial
connectors that plug between the unit to be programmed
and the soldered-in connector on the programming device.
After a given number of programming cycles, the sacrificial
connectors are pulled out and replaced.  It really depends
on volume whether or not this makes any sense.  If
a "large quantity" is 5 per day, the sacrificial connector
may be a way to go.  If the volume is 30k per month
then the test head with pins is the winner.  You need to
do a study to determine the lowest overall cost
(programming time, fixture cost, design time, etc.) to
determine the optimal solution.


Ken Lumia

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