The universal leaning pin fixture use a CNC drilled fixture plate that is mounted in a stack up with some sort of spacer, and the pins are inserted on angles or straight down to deflect from the PCB board to the base of the machine.
Low tech fixtures use the less expensive material and larger size pins and in some cases the fixtures are built for one time use. The plates are spaced with large gaps because the pins are thicker and will not buckle under test.
Available Densities | Single & Double Density |
Test Pin Length | 95.25 mm |
Minimum Pin Size | 0.45 mm |
Minimum Pad Size | 0.3 mm |
Minimum Pitch | 0.65 mm |
Minimum Plates | 6 |
Maximum Pates | 6 |
Type of Products used on the fixture | Flex, Rigid-Flex, Multilayer, Double side |
Disadvantages | Disposable, test pin diameter limited (0.45 mm) |
Advantages | Low cost, good performance, production time is short |
Medium tech fixtures use a wider range of material types that maintain x/y stability and allow for test pins sizes down to 0.25 mm. The plates are spaced with various spacing not exceeding 2.5 cm to prevent the pins from buckling under test.
Available Densities | Single, Double, Quad Density |
Test Pin Length | 95.25 mm |
Minimum Pin Size | 0.25 mm |
Minimum Pad Size | 0.15 mm |
Minimum Pitch | 0.5 mm |
Minimum Plates | 7 |
Maximum Pates | 9 |
Type of Products used on the fixture | Flex, Rigid-Flex, Multilayer, Double side |
Disadvantages | Disposable, test pin diameter limited (0.25 mm) |
Advantages | High stability, good performance on testing. Top fixture is movable, parts can be used repeatedly |
Special Parts used | Stop Pin, Alignment pin,Top Alignment Pin |
High tech fixtures use a wider range of material types that maintain x/y stability and allow for test pins sizes down to 0.1 mm. The plates are spaced with various spacing not exceeding 15 mm to prevent the pins from buckling under test.
Available Densities | Single, Double, Quad Density |
Test Pin Length | 95.25 to 97.25 mm |
Minimum Pin Size | 0.1 mm |
Minimum Pad Size | 0.15 mm |
Minimum Pitch | 0.3 mm |
Minimum Plates | 9 |
Maximum Pates | 17 |
Type of Products used on the fixture | Flex, Rigid-Flex, Multilayer, Double side, HDI |
Disadvantages | Drilling times take more time with many more drill cycles. |
Advantages | High stability, excellent performance. Apply to high density PCB. Top fixture is movable. Top fixture is movable, parts can be used repeatedly |
Special Parts used | Guide Pin L, Guide Pin *, Geta |
Mechanical Alignment Top/Bottom and Board Tooling
Your Gardien Local Service Centre may offer this service. The AOI tooling and production services are controlled by Gardien’s proprietary job flow system called Ontrack (link to Ontrack). This creates a seamless and error free flow of information from the customer supplied data to the Service Floors at Gardien.
Gardien’s team is trained and qualified on all internal process as documented Quality Management System. The internal process has specific inputs for incoming, certified, and not good boards as well as descriptive educational programs on various board types, and surface finishes.
Gardien certifies each order processed with a Certificate of Compliance with details about how the order was processed, what specifications were used to certify the product, equipment used with calibration expiry date, team member who processed the order, quantity, and failure analysis.
Gardien strongly recommends that the test sequence and parameters are clearly stated on the manufacturing drawing or at a minimum agreed upon during the quoting or contract realization phase. In addition, any PCB sent to us for processing should have a unique identifier on each peace for electronic traceability.
Mr. Syvret joined Gardien Services Canada as Financial Controller in 2001 and assumed the role of Finance Director North America in 2007. Over the past 20 years, Mr. Syvret has held senior finance and accounting roles, including with Canadian Pacific Ltd and Sprint Inc.
Mr. Niraj Patel joined the company on a part time basis in 1993 while attending college full time. He worked in various positions until he graduated from the Centennial College Computer Systems Technology program, whereupon he was hired full time. He progressed through several testing and CAM department positions and was appointed North American CAM Manager in 1998. After 18 years with the company, Mr. Patel was promoted to Senior Vice President of Operations, Gardien Services Canada Inc. in 2011. In January, 2015 Mr. Patel became Vice President NA of the newly combined organizational unit North America which includes the Canada and USA.
Mr. Todd Kolmodin, a native to the Pacific Northwest was born in Seattle Washington. At a young age he moved to the Portland Oregon area. In March of 1986 he graduated from ITT Technical Institute with a degree in Electronics Engineering Technology. Todd began his tenure in the Electrical Test field that same year. Todd spent eight years working in an independent testing facility in Wilsonville Oregon where he built skills in all aspects of Electrical Test and Quality Assurance.
Todd then spent a short term with Yamamoto Corporation on their Engineering staff covering PCB drill, finishing and Electrical Test before joining Probe Test Fixtures in 1995. His charge was CAM and Fixuring Manager. Todd joined the Gardien Group in September 1998 continuing the same roll and taking on the responsibilities of Quality Manager for Oregon operations. In 2008 Mr. Kolmodin was promoted to Vice President Quality USA. In this position Mr. Kolmodin oversees and maintains the Gardien ITAR registration, ISO Multi-Site registration and multiple site Lab Suitability with the Defense Logistics Agency Land and Maritime. Now also maintaining the Gardien QMS system Todd now serves as Vice President Quality North America.
Mr. Kolmodin is also a published columnist and Technical Presenter with multiple appearances at the IPC Apex Expo Conferences in both San Diego and Las Vegas.
Mr. Valentini was appointed COO in July 2010 after successfully serving as head of North American operations since 2005.
Roland has over ten years’ experience in the PCB industry, including sales, service, and project management at Atotech GmbH, Germany mainly relating to PCB plating equipment.
He has significant sales experience from his tenure at Mack Rides GmbH and headed up worldwide installations for Lurgi Bischoff GmbH.
Mr. Valentini received a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mannheim, Germany.
Prior to Richard joining Gardien in September 2014, he was Chairman/CEO of tool chain vendor Atego Group Systems Limited which was sold to PTC Inc.
Prior to joining Atego, Richard held a number of Executive and Non-Executive roles including Senior Independent Non-Executive Director of Plethora Solutions, an AIM listed Pharmaceutical Company and CEO of AIM listed Cybit Holdings plc. where he grew the company from inception to revenues of over 25 million and took the company through multiple acquisitions before managing a sale of the business to Francisco Partners.
Richard previously held a number of senior roles in the Software industry.
Mr. Meraw was appointed Group Vice President of Quality in Jan 2015 after successfully serving as Senior Vice President of USA operations since 2011. Prior to being responsible for USA operations Mr Meraw was responsible for Canadian operations since 2001.
Rick has over twenty years’ experience with Gardien Group and has various roles including, service technician, customer liaison, Quality manager, technical support, project management, and software design/ implementation.
In June 1992 he graduated with an Electronic Engineering Technologist degree, with honors from a local community college.
Kevin Syvret
Niraj Patel
Todd Kolmodin
Roland Valentini
Richard Horsman
Rick Miraw
Mr. Valentini was appointed COO in July 2010 after successfully serving as head of North American operations since 2005.
Roland has over ten years’ experience in the PCB industry, including sales, service, and project management at Atotech GmbH, Germany mainly relating to PCB plating equipment.
He has significant sales experience from his tenure at Mack Rides GmbH and headed up worldwide installations for Lurgi Bischoff GmbH.
Mr. Valentini received a Master’s Degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Mannheim, Germany.