4040 Flying

The Spea 4040 is a flying probe system manufactured by Spea. The model number 4040 identifies this machine within Spea's product line.^{[1][2][3][4][5]}

Flying probe testers position electrically driven probes over a board using motorized positioning stages. Each probe is independently moved to touch a selected test point on the board surface. Test signals are applied through the probes and the resulting electrical responses are measured. Flying probe systems compare the measured values against expected values to detect faults.

Flying probe systems detect conditions such as opens, shorts, and incorrect component behavior. The probes both stimulate and sense, so a single system can perform continuity and isolation checks as well as component-level measurements.

Flying probe testers are used in the electrical test stage of printed circuit board production. Flying probe testing is applied to bare boards before component assembly and to populated boards after soldering. Flying probe testing suits prototype, low-volume, and high-mix production where per-design test fixtures are impractical. Boards that fail flying probe testing move to a debug and repair stage.

Flying probe testers are applied to testing bare boards for shorts and opens. Flying probe systems also test assembled boards for component placement and soldering faults. The technique serves prototyping, small series production, and repair verification where fixture-based testing would be uneconomical.