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How ArduPilot Mega IMU shields and mainboards are tested

Posted by Chris Anderson on June 9, 2010 at 10:00pm

Making boards of the complexity of the ArduPilot IMU shield takes more than a pick & place machine. It also requires a test jig to verify that every board is working before it's shipped out. Here's a board from the first batch being tested. Those pins inbetween the two red boards are called pogo pins, and they're spring loaded, allowing us to just press the new board on the top to make an electrical connection.


Here's a shot from the side. The board in the middle is running the test code:



This is the one Sparkfun uses for the ArduPilot Mega main board, which they gave us so we could make our own main boards, too. Sparkfun makes the best test jigs and they've taught us a lot. Yay Sparkfun!



The final product! ArduPilot Mega IMU shields getting ready to be shipped out--is there anything more beautiful?


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Comments

  • Josh June 10, 2010 at 4:57pm
    as someone that works in the electronics production field I'm cringing at the sight of the boards all stacked one on top of the other. lol
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson June 10, 2010 at 1:11pm
    HappyK, he's now moved to a much bigger house in San Diego. Our "factory" now has its own whole room! (just a garage, true, but there's a rich tradition there ;-))
  • Moderator
    Sgt Ric June 10, 2010 at 1:10pm
    @Gary, I always wondered if she would have become as famous if she had kept the red hair?

    Cool that she worked on drones before she worked on Kennedy. (sorry, that was a bad one, I know)
  • Hein June 10, 2010 at 8:49am
    @Chris the third one from the left is mine, can recognise it from here
  • Jason Kunc June 10, 2010 at 7:26am
    @Chris what is the timeline for shipping for this first batch? I'm like a little kids waiting for x-mas.
  • Jeff June 10, 2010 at 7:03am
    sure hope the board in the test jig isn't being sent out!! no Acel! :) Can't wait for mine!
  • Jason Kunc June 10, 2010 at 5:57am
    it's like... like PCB porn. does you mother know what you do for a living?
  • IKE June 10, 2010 at 4:39am
    That last photo is great! Do you have a special PCB stylist? :P
  • 3D Robotics
    Chris Anderson June 10, 2010 at 4:36am
    @mook. Yes, here.
  • automatik June 10, 2010 at 12:25am
    Nice test jig ! JTAG anyone ;)

    @mook - do you really want to solder all of those ICs and SMD components? I'll do few SMD / very fine pitch components for prototyping or repair, but not whole board assembly if I don't have to :)
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