atg Luther & Maelzer GmbH announces that it will display the A5-A Probe System with Automation with Everett Charles Technologies (ECT) in booth 1383 at the upcoming APEX 2008 conference and exhibition, scheduled to take place April 1-3, 2008, in Las Vegas.

The A5-A Probe System has been developed in direct response to market needs for a fully functional and affordable automated test platform for the small manufacturing facility. Taking proven atg/LM technology, the A5-A Probe System has been fully automated to meet the needs of companies with as little as one production line.

Small manufacturing facilities typically produce low volume batches or prototypes, which results in a high level of product changeover. To eliminate the need for long and complicated setup and adjustment of each PCB, the A5-A Probe System incorporates a new generation of automation to accommodate different PCB types and sizes within a short period of time. To speed this process a flexible, stress free loading and uploading system has been fully automated, with a sensitive handling function, for different PCB types. By automating this function the operator is free to perform other duties during their shift, or to set up the test process to be carried out overnight, simulating a third shift. Incorporating four high resolution CCD cameras for optical scanning, the board handling unit automatically separates ‘good boards’ and ‘bad boards’ in a cycle time of less than fifteen seconds, with the added option of an automated marking system.

The A5-A Probe System can accommodate a minimum 100 mm x 72 mm (4.0“ x 2.8“) and maximum 610 mm x 460 mm (24“x18“) board size. The minimum thickness is 0.8 mm down to a board size of 320 mm x 250 mm (12“ x 10“) and 0.6 mm lower than 320 mm x 250 mm (12“ x 10“), with a maximum of 4mm (0.15“). atg/LM’s new A5-A Probe System ensures that even small manufacturing facilities can rely on the quality and reliability of the products tested, making automated test affordable for all.