Here is a few more information, which may answer some of the specific points raised before: 1. Select the right tip for pogo pin cable: http://www.auelectronics.com/forum/index.php/topic,42.msg128.html#msg128 2. Application for Spherical Radius Tip: http://www.auelectronics.com/forum/index.php/topic,42.msg129.html#msg129 3. Application for Conical Tip: http://www.auelectronics.com/forum/index.php/topic,42.msg130.html#msg130 4. Application for Chisel Tip: http://www.auelectronics.com/forum/index.php/topic,42.msg131.html#msg131 5. Application for Serrated Tip: http://www.auelectronics.com/forum/index.php/topic,42.msg132.html#msg132 Each of the tip design might just got its own pros and cons which makes it hard to find a one for all solution. The tip on all our "pogo pin header" and "pogo pin cable" are replaceable, the tip can be change to other style or replaced by the same style after 1 million cycles of usage (typical wear-out life). We can also provide different tips per customer request. So far, the spherical radius tip has been used on white appliance assembly line with very good feedback. It is also used for large quantity of "home entertainment system" manufacturing plant. We got the same good result at our own facility too. The spring contact probe technology (such as pogo-pin devices) is such a wide adopted technology, there might be many more experience from others, which is welcome to be shared in this list or our forum: http://www.auelectronics.com/forum/index.php/topic,42.0.html Funny N. Au Group Electronics, http://www.AuElectronics.com http://www.AuElectronics.com/products http://augroups.blogspot.com/ ________________________________ From: Olin Lathrop To: Microcontroller discussion list - Public. Sent: Sunday, August 23, 2009 9:02:00 AM Subject: Re: [EE] Pogo pin programming for PIC and ATMEL mcu. Funny NYPD wrote: > No doubt, there are many different type of design will work and all > suit your need. Different designs will have different advantages and disadvantages. Rarely to many fit the same need equally. This case is no exception. While you can probably contrive a case where hand-held round-tip pogo pins are the best solution, this is going to be a rarety. > Our experience shows, the Pogo pin does provide a good contact at all > situation in the lab and manufacturing environment. And it doesn't > require gold plated circuit board due to its shape and spring loaded > structure. You don't say what your exprience includes, so it is impossible to form any conclusions from your statement. Lots of things work great in small quantities in the lab, then have problems in manufacturing when the greater variability of test subjects together with larger sample size has a nasty way of finding the tail ends of the curves and throwing them in your face. If rounded pogo pin ends are so great, then perhaps you can explain why they never seem to be used in manufacturing jigs for contact with ordinary circuit board pads. This is why there are chisel points and the like. I've seen a lot of manufacturing jigs, and I don't remember ever seeing rounded pin ends for this purpose. This includes plenty designed independently of me. ******************************************************************** Embed Inc, LittletonMassachusetts, http://www.embedinc.com/products (978) 742-9014. Gold level PIC consultants since 2000. -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist -- http://www.piclist.com PIC/SX FAQ & list archive View/change your membership options at http://mailman.mit.edu/mailman/listinfo/piclist