Bed of nails test fixture to flash STM32 firmware via Raspberry Pi GPIO (openocd)

[@KaspersMC]

Hey maybe you ground Pogo Pin shall touch first, so maybe it would be best if you had a ground connection(Pogo Pin) in each corner and they were 1mm higher than the others + Thanks for your Video : )

[@AerialWaviator]

Very impressive test jib setup and amount of effort that has gone into this project. Thanks for making the video, definitely interesting. When I worked with test jibs, we used rubber as support and gasket, and vacuum suction. Your solution is simple and pragmatic. Conclusions regarding the pogo pin operation is spot on. Tips can wear, or pins bend, and don't easily pop back up, so can need replacing. The Pi automation stuff was also an interesting and useful topic, linking the various elements of the process together is not always intuitive. A video like this is great self documentation for future reference.

[@markgreco1962]

I’m glad you made this video. Interesting thought process.

[@ismzaxxon]

commercial testing with pogo pins we use a foam pad with a wooden block, then put a dive belt weight on top. Boards were in panels. Wooden board distributed weight, foam pad took pressure off components. We did have a power switch for the board so we didn't power up without full connections to power rails.

[@welshdave5263]

I love videos on test jigs and automation, this was a good watch. I would recommend slowing the LED chase speed though, as you said they all appear on at once. If there's a solder whisker or foreign body shorting a pair it would not be seen, maybe 200ms per LED would allow you to see if more than one LED lights at the same time.

[@iforce2d]

I figure the bridged ones will be twice as bright so probably still noticeable. But yes, the solder whisker is definitely a problem to watch out for. I had one board where the DP/DM of the micro-USB plug were bridged, everything was fine until I actually tried to use it with the iomixer configurator. For a while I was thinking to make a special firmware that would activate the board and also write a default sample config, but I think it's safer to do that over USB as normal and in the process make sure the USB actually works.

[@PiefacePete46]

10:14... YES! You don't ask too many questions that I am qualified to answer, but I can answer that one from personal experience. 😜

[@markgreco1962]

I love the Theater Chris.

[@mistercohaagen]

I have to use a "Donegan AL-S1 OptiVisor®" for fine work now. I got the LED mod and everything. It was upsetting at first, but I'm just embracing my old-manliness now. Male pattern baldness, bit of a gut... I'm fine with it all. I'm not going to start wearing tank tops (singlet?) though. You've gotta draw the line somewhere, supposedly.

[@PiefacePete46]

I'm guessing the number of times you expect to use the "bed of nails" dictates how much time you spend creating it... I'm thinking you could CNC (because you can!), a top to the frame that clamps the PCB down evenly around the edge, ensuring it remains level. This is all pretty neat stuff!... Thanks.

[@EnglishTurbines]

The acrylic guide plate should have a step milled in it so its impossible to get the test PCB unlevel or engaged to far....😳😳😮😮😀😀🇬🇧

[@welshdave5263]

Yep, this is how all the clamping test jigs in my workplace have been made.

[@seanoconnor8843]

Yep, I'm as fit as a flea but ask me to point at a flea and I'm snookered

[@PiefacePete46]

Just be patient... eventually he will get sick of waiting, and he will bite you... easy to find then! 😜

[@alexscarbro796]

Over centre clamps for the win!

[@DFEUERMAN]

Well done! Do you have a link to that rubber-strap?

[@iforce2d]

These particular straps were given to me by a friend in Japan, but I believe there are similar ones out there, usually called 'rapstrap'.

[@gatisozols]

Stlinks are not really made to handle a lot of current if i remember correctly they handle 200mA max so. I guess bunch of LEDs can make it faint

[@iforce2d]

The weird thing is, for a fresh board with no fimware only two LEDs actually light up (the two I2C pins each have external pull-ups). And yet the STLink still conked out when more than a few other pins were connected. I'm guessing that even connecting a microcontroller pin in the low state still draws some tiny current momentarily?

[@gatisozols]

That is strange i thouht that it dies when the LEDs are on.. Anyways as You said - the external power is the way to go..

[@James-un6kx]

I'd love to know you setup for how your camera is held. Do you use a tripod?

[@iforce2d]

It's a webcam mounted on a microphone stand. kzbin.info/www/bejne/pqfclpedbLyXbqcsi=h1oJYPSiPvtv9MTU&t=449

[@mumbaiverve2307]

Am I the only one getting this in 720p only ? For clamping , might be easier and more robust to use one of the multi start screws from the top, perhaps ...

[@mozismobile]

I'm guessing NOPASSWD in sudoers too? Other wise it's going to stop and ask for the password?

[@iforce2d]

Seems like that's already configured for the "pi" user by default on a standard raspbian install. When running by systemd the process is owned by root.

[@darkobul1]

Me too I dont see up close well😂. We are getting old.

[@mozismobile]

Also, guessing you want something like "Clamp, Toggle, Horizontal Lock , M8 Pawl, #714228" with a suitable bit of wood on the end to spread the clamping pressure out, then foam to even it up? Not giving a link that that should take you to a picture of the thing

[@iforce2d]

Yeah those are the type I was meaning. Not sure whether it's more work to keep using the rubber strap, or to set up a proper mount and clamp :)