PCB holder / testing fixture

grabcad

A portable PCB and testprobes holder for electronics testing and debugging has proven to be a game-changer in development. This setup allows engineers to securely hold oscilloscope probes and extra equipment to PCBs, freeing up both hands for more complex tasks than simply holding a probe. The construction details of this versatile tool are noteworthy: * The articulated metal arm was sourced from a cheap dial gauge. The base was removed, and an M5 bolt is attached to the aluminum profile using an M5 T-nut. This arm provides flexibility in holding scope probes at various angles, even when a ground spring is attached for low-noise or high-speed measurements. * The 20x20mm aluminum profile from openbuilds was cut to approximately 20cm. * One side of the PCB is secured with an M3 bolt, while the other side is free to move along the rail, spring-loaded by a ~50mm long spring that fits inside the profile and is held by another T-nut. * The 2nd arm made from 3D printing uses M3 bolts to hold the base and the arm, with hexagonal knobs making it easy to adjust by hand. * At the end of the arm, there's a 20mm long 1.35mm diameter spring-loaded "pogo-pin" that's soldered to a flexible silicone wire at the top side. The sharp tip and spring of the pogo-pin make it simple to hold enough pressure on a PCB testpoint or an SMD pad. The design can be extended as needed by adding more profiles, keeping flexibility in mind. Adding one L-shaped profile will allow for more probes without limiting board size options. However, two or three additional profiles may compromise flexibility when using different board sizes.