# How to Make a Pogo Pin Test Jig ## Overview ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/520/medium800/manufacturing_pogoears.jpeg?1396784015) If you end up buying a pick and place to assemble PCBs (or even if you're doing it by hand) you'll need to test out your boards! If you have an assembler do it for you, its still probably a good idea to have a jig you can give them. A good jig will tell you whats going right and whats going wrong. In this tutorial I will show how I designed a very basic jig with a "tested good" audible indicator. The board its testing is very simple but the basic premise can be expanded to large projects with ease. ## More on Pogo Pins Please familiarize yourself with these Pogo Pin resources: [The basics of Pogo Pin connectors](https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/the-basics-of-pogo-pin-connectors) - DigiKey [Video](https://youtu.be/NGZ_vd6qmeQ): Pogo Pins – Collin’s Lab Notes https://youtu.be/NGZ_vd6qmeQ # How to Make a Pogo Pin Test Jig ## Preparation I like to use a victim PCB to make jigs - FR4 is strong and you already have a template. You'll also need some standoffs and some pogo pins.![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/521/medium800/manufacturing_pogos.jpeg?1396784025) The spring-loaded ('pogo') pins I prefer are about 0.5" long and have a spear point. They also fit snugly into 'standard' 0.035" (0.9mm) drill holes so they are easy to insert and stand up straight. [We now carry these pogo pins in the Adafruit shop!](http://www.adafruit.com/products/394) They're called "P75-LM" type, you can also pick them up on ebay. I don't use the socket holders because - well - I dont. But if you're buidling something that will be used for a long time by clumsy people its probably a good idea. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/522/medium800/manufacturing_P75_PL75pogos.jpeg?1396784040) See above for a handy reference diagram for the kinds of heads you can get! This board already has 4 x 2-56 sized mounting holes so its easy to attach standoffs. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/523/medium800/manufacturing_victim_t.jpeg?1396784046) Choose the standoffs so that the tips of the pogo pins are above the standoff part but below the end of the screw.![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/524/medium800/manufacturing_pogo_t.jpeg?1396784049) # How to Make a Pogo Pin Test Jig ## Arduino Shield Jigs I will be using [an Arduino to make this jig](http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17&products_id=50). Arduinos are very standard, easy to power and are a breeze for short projects like this. You'll also want a [proto shield PCB](http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=17_21&products_id=55 "Link: http://www.adafruit.com/index.php?main\_page=product\_info&cPath=17\_21&products\_id=55") I think I'll put the victim...like this! ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/525/medium800/manufacturing_standoff.jpeg?1396784061) Mark and drill the mounting holes - four in this case. Luckily (or on purpose???) I placed the mounting holes on 0.1" boundaries.![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/526/medium800/manufacturing_drill.jpeg?1396784071) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/527/medium800/manufacturing_screwed.jpeg?1396784082) Solder wires from each pogo pin to a matching pin on the shield. For this SD card interface I connected the SPI pins to the SPI port. Then the output of the 3.3v regulator goes to an analog pin. I also connected the card detect pin up so I can tell when a board is being tested.![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/528/medium800/manufacturing_wires.jpeg?1396784093) A piezo buzzer is connected to pin #9 (underneath the PCB).![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/529/medium800/manufacturing_wiresolder.jpeg?1396784104) # How to Make a Pogo Pin Test Jig ## The Code The code for the project is below and available on GitHub. [See the files for this project on GitHub](https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Learning_System_Guides/tree/master/SD_Card_Testing_Jig) https://github.com/adafruit/Adafruit_Learning_System_Guides/blob/main/SD_Card_Testing_Jig/sdcardtest/sdcardtest.ino # How to Make a Pogo Pin Test Jig ## Testing Now the fun part! When a board is ready to test, insert a uSD card, and simply slip it into the orienting 'registration' standoffs and press down to make contact with the pogo pins. The Arduino will automatically detect when the CD pin is shorted to ground (good) and begin the test procedure. If all is good, it will beep!![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/530/medium800/manufacturing_placed.jpeg?1396784114) ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/531/medium800/manufacturing_press.jpeg?1396784125) Beep! # How to Make a Pogo Pin Test Jig ## Advanced Pogo Jigs For more complicated projects, you may need to have a complicated testing procedure in which case we can make multi-step testers that also keep the PCB held down with little ears!![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/002/532/medium800/manufacturing_pogoears.jpeg?1396784133) (We totally saw this and stole the idea from someone online but we can't find the link anymore, sorry!) The plastic pieces hold down the PCB against the pogo bed. This tester, when used with a little batch script, performs the following test: 1. Reprograms the board's fuses and flash with a bootloader (via the ISP port). For this part we're using the Arduino as an ISP programmer (there's a sketch that does this) 2. The computer then bootloads (via USB) a pin-by-pin testing program 3. Once the board indicates the test completed, the computer erases the testing program ## Various Types of Pogo Pins ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/138/575/medium800/manufacturing_Untitled1.png?1753805628) There are various types, sizes and lengths of pogo pins. When you are designing your particular project, you will want to check the fit of your board against the pins to ensure a good mechanical fit. Pins to short or too long may not make the desired electrical connection you are planning. ![](https://cdn-learn.adafruit.com/assets/assets/000/138/577/medium800/manufacturing_Untitled.png?1753805898) [This article by DigiKey](https://www.digikey.com/en/articles/the-basics-of-pogo-pin-connectors) is good at explaining pogo pins. ## Pogo Pins – Collin’s Lab Notes https://youtu.be/NGZ_vd6qmeQ # How to Make a Pogo Pin Test Jig ## Support Forums ## Featured Products ### Pogo Pin Probe Clip [Pogo Pin Probe Clip](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1969) The Pogo Pin Probe Clip is a great way to test and connect with pin-point accuracy without soldering! It's sort of like an [alligator clip](https://www.adafruit.com/product/321) with a built-in springy pogo pin - so you can connect to any PCB pad for 'scoping, analyzing, or... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/1969) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/1969/guides) ### Pogo Pins "Spear Head" (10 pack) [Pogo Pins "Spear Head" (10 pack)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/394) Pogo pins are little spring-loaded contacts, very handy for making jigs, or making momentary (but electrically solid) contacts. We use them by the dozen for making programming and testing jigs but they're handy also if say you want to JTAG program a board that you cant solder headers to -... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/394) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/394/guides) ### Pogo Pins "Cupped Head" (10 pack) [Pogo Pins "Cupped Head" (10 pack)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2428) Pogo pins are little spring-loaded contacts, very handy for making jigs, or making momentary (but electrically solid) contacts. We use them by the dozen for making programming and testing jigs but they're handy also if say you want to JTAG program a board that you cant solder headers to -... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2428) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2428/guides) ### Pogo Pins "Crown Head" (10 pack) [Pogo Pins "Crown Head" (10 pack)](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2429) Pogo pins are little spring-loaded contacts, very handy for making jigs, or making momentary (but electrically solid) contacts. We use them by the dozen for making programming and testing jigs but they're handy also if say you want to JTAG program a board that you cant solder headers to -... 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A pogo-pin bed is a great way to connect and test boards without any soldering, but you have to somehow get that PCB aligned right and evenly pressed down... In Stock [Buy Now](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2457) [Related Guides to the Product](https://learn.adafruit.com/products/2457/guides) ### Toggle Clamp - Medium Flip-up Style [Toggle Clamp - Medium Flip-up Style](https://www.adafruit.com/product/2456) \*Ka-thunk\* Pin down that little PCB with our  **Toggle Clamp** , a sturdy and reliable way to quickly press and release with precision! A pogo-pin bed is a great way to connect and test boards without any soldering, but you have to somehow get that PCB aligned right and evenly... 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