On May 3, 2005 03:38 pm, Dmitriy Kiryashov wrote:
> Hi All.
>
> What would be cheapest and still reliable hardware
> solution to support ICSP in high volume manufacturing ?
> ( besides low cost connectors(plastic), pcb board edge
>   connectors and jtag like pads with pogo pins assembled
>   on the stand )

Well, going for cheap-n-reliable....   ;-)  ;-)  ;-)

3 pieces of wood nailed together in the form of a U shaped jig.

At the top edges of the U, you put a couple of metal sticks to provide 
correct PCB alignment (place PCB horizontally on U (4 to hold PCB 
correctly in X direction, 4 to hold PCB correctly in Y direction).

At the bottom of the U, you drill holes to place test pins which point 
up at your PCB. The X/Y locations depend on the X/Y location of your 
bare PCB pads when placing your board on this U-shaped jig.

The Test pins are spring-loaded and replaceable, because they will wear 
out due to hi-volume production.  Solder wires from the pin sockets 
(holding your testpoints) to a socket which you can plug into your 
ICSP.
On your PCB, you provide a few bare pads for your +5v, gnd, etc.

To program, place board on U, press down on testpoints, press a button 
to program.

Unfortunately, this won't test for backwards parts, wrong components, 
wrong voltages etc... but you did want cheap and it is rather simple to 
build-n-fix   :-)  If you want to get fancy, you choose a decent ICSP 
(such as Olin's) plus you add more testpoints to test other factors of 
your PCB.


>
> Olin Lathrop wrote:
> > phil B wrote:
> > > Why not just use a service?  I know Digi Key will
> > > preprogram for fairly cheap if you buy from them.  I
> > > looked into this about 6 months ago - the minimums
> > > were pretty small and prices reasonable.
> >
> > I see a lot more last minute in-circuit programming than I did a
> > few years ago.  Especially with surface mount chips, you want
> > everything assembled by a place that does mostly that.  Often new
> > firmware versions come out regularly, so with ICSP the latest can
> > be programmed at final test and calibration time.  ICSP capability
> > also gives a potential path for field upgrades.

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