Video Transcript – the making of a Universal PCB Fixture

PCBFX
Universal PCB Fixture

Jake Johnson, Wes Roscoe, Jake Scott, July Lapa, & Ryan Jensen

Plexus, a contract electronics assembly manufacturer, is looking to create a printed circuit board (PCB) fixture. The fixture will ultimately augment the assembly process in hopes of preventing board and component damage during manufacturing.

We, PCBFX, must design, manufacture, and test this fixture which in the end will fulfill Plexus’ need.

The fixture must adjust to various board shapes and sizes (4” x 4” to 12” x 12”)

The fixture must have workable access to both sides of the PCB.

The fixture must be ESD safe.

The fixture must survive baking and washing cycle (~100C).

The fixture must secure the PCB at all times.

Our design process started with researching current products on the market.

Extracting a pros and cons list of each fixture.

Making our way to sketching our own fixtures.

Potential designs.

And then bringing it to life

3D printed (2/3 scale model of our design)

Second iteration: made out of acrylic

We conducted a couple of tests
Drop test: corner, side, face, ‘accidental swipe’

Shape/Size Test: rectangular, circular, and irregular

Third iteration: made out of ESD safe Durostone

Conducted ESD testing
ESD Test: surface resistivity and volume resistivity

For more details, join PCBFX on December 9, 2020 at 3 pm to learn more about our Universal PCB Fixture.

Thank you!