Post History
Background: I have several microcontroller based projects with custom PCB that have been in very-low-volume production, but the quantities are starting to go up. (batch sizes now ~100 and threateni...
#4: Post edited
by
Pete W
·
2021-01-13T16:16:58Z (almost 4 years ago)
_Background:_ I have several microcontroller based projects with custom PCB that have been in very-low-volume production, but the quantities are starting to go up. (batch sizes now ~100 and threatening to go to ~1000). Point being that the time has come to make a number of decisions. The economics here are such that part cost is a secondary concern.- I don't feel ready to commit to having the chips pre-programmed, and while I have a bootloader, it is considerably slower than flashing the chip using it's in-system-programming feature.
- So far I have put a dedicated picoblade programming header for simplicity, but even this is starting to be a nuisance, and a waste of footprint space.
- _Question_: Looking for recommendations for alternatives, experiences, etc.
- I have seen customized programming devices with pogo connectors (some very slick ones, in fact), with unmasked pads on the receiving end on the device to be programmed, and fancy alignment mechanisms.
- In particular I was thinking of using something like a 1.27mm thru-hole footprint with smaller holes than the pogos to receive the connections, rather than flat pads. Then maybe ok for the person doing the programming to just hold it in place by hand for the 3-4 seconds it needs.
- I was wondering if there are anyone here has recommendations for any off-the-shelf components they have used, or alternative methods that may be relevant.
- _Background:_ I have several microcontroller based projects with custom PCB that have been in very-low-volume production, but the quantities are starting to go up. (batch sizes now ~100 and threatening to go to ~1000). The economics here are such that part cost is a secondary concern.
- I don't feel ready to commit to having the chips pre-programmed, and while I have a bootloader, it is considerably slower than flashing the chip using it's in-system-programming feature.
- So far I have put a dedicated picoblade programming header for simplicity, but even this is starting to be a nuisance, and a waste of footprint space.
- _Question_: Looking for recommendations for alternatives, experiences, etc.
- I have seen customized programming devices with pogo connectors (some very slick ones, in fact), with unmasked pads on the receiving end on the device to be programmed, and fancy alignment mechanisms.
- In particular I was thinking of using something like a 1.27mm thru-hole footprint with smaller holes than the pogos to receive the connections, rather than flat pads. Then maybe ok for the person doing the programming to just hold it in place by hand for the 3-4 seconds it needs.
- I was wondering if there are anyone here has recommendations for any off-the-shelf components they have used, or alternative methods that may be relevant.
#3: Post edited
by
Pete W
·
2021-01-13T16:16:35Z (almost 4 years ago)
_Background:_ I have several microcontroller based projects with custom PCB that have been in very-low-volume production, but the quantities are starting to go up. (batch sizes now ~100 and threatening to go to ~1000). The economics here are such that part cost is a secondary concern.- I don't feel ready to commit to having the chips pre-programmed, and while I have a bootloader, it is considerably slower than flashing the chip using it's in-system-programming feature.
- So far I have put a dedicated picoblade programming header for simplicity, but even this is starting to be a nuisance, and a waste of footprint space.
- _Question_: Looking for recommendations for alternatives, experiences, etc.
- I have seen customized programming devices with pogo connectors (some very slick ones, in fact), with unmasked pads on the receiving end on the device to be programmed, and fancy alignment mechanisms.
- In particular I was thinking of using something like a 1.27mm thru-hole footprint with smaller holes than the pogos to receive the connections, rather than flat pads. Then maybe ok for the person doing the programming to just hold it in place by hand for the 3-4 seconds it needs.
- I was wondering if there are anyone here has recommendations for any off-the-shelf components they have used, or alternative methods that may be relevant.
- _Background:_ I have several microcontroller based projects with custom PCB that have been in very-low-volume production, but the quantities are starting to go up. (batch sizes now ~100 and threatening to go to ~1000). Point being that the time has come to make a number of decisions. The economics here are such that part cost is a secondary concern.
- I don't feel ready to commit to having the chips pre-programmed, and while I have a bootloader, it is considerably slower than flashing the chip using it's in-system-programming feature.
- So far I have put a dedicated picoblade programming header for simplicity, but even this is starting to be a nuisance, and a waste of footprint space.
- _Question_: Looking for recommendations for alternatives, experiences, etc.
- I have seen customized programming devices with pogo connectors (some very slick ones, in fact), with unmasked pads on the receiving end on the device to be programmed, and fancy alignment mechanisms.
- In particular I was thinking of using something like a 1.27mm thru-hole footprint with smaller holes than the pogos to receive the connections, rather than flat pads. Then maybe ok for the person doing the programming to just hold it in place by hand for the 3-4 seconds it needs.
- I was wondering if there are anyone here has recommendations for any off-the-shelf components they have used, or alternative methods that may be relevant.
#2: Post edited
by
Pete W
·
2021-01-13T16:04:37Z (almost 4 years ago)
_Background:_ I have several microcontroller based projects with custom PCB that have been in very-low-volume production, but the quantities are starting to go up. (batch sizes ~100 and threatening to go to ~1000). The economics here are such that part cost is a secondary concern.- I don't feel ready to commit to having the chips pre-programmed, and while I have a bootloader, it is considerably slower than flashing the chip using it's in-system-programming feature.
- So far I have put a dedicated picoblade programming header for simplicity, but even this is starting to be a nuisance, and a waste of footprint space.
- _Question_: Looking for recommendations for alternatives, experiences, etc.
- I have seen customized programming devices with pogo connectors (some very slick ones, in fact), with unmasked pads on the receiving end on the device to be programmed, and fancy alignment mechanisms.
- In particular I was thinking of using something like a 1.27mm thru-hole footprint with smaller holes than the pogos to receive the connections, rather than flat pads. Then maybe ok for the person doing the programming to just hold it in place by hand for the 3-4 seconds it needs.
- I was wondering if there are anyone here has recommendations for any off-the-shelf components they have used, or alternative methods that may be relevant.
- _Background:_ I have several microcontroller based projects with custom PCB that have been in very-low-volume production, but the quantities are starting to go up. (batch sizes now ~100 and threatening to go to ~1000). The economics here are such that part cost is a secondary concern.
- I don't feel ready to commit to having the chips pre-programmed, and while I have a bootloader, it is considerably slower than flashing the chip using it's in-system-programming feature.
- So far I have put a dedicated picoblade programming header for simplicity, but even this is starting to be a nuisance, and a waste of footprint space.
- _Question_: Looking for recommendations for alternatives, experiences, etc.
- I have seen customized programming devices with pogo connectors (some very slick ones, in fact), with unmasked pads on the receiving end on the device to be programmed, and fancy alignment mechanisms.
- In particular I was thinking of using something like a 1.27mm thru-hole footprint with smaller holes than the pogos to receive the connections, rather than flat pads. Then maybe ok for the person doing the programming to just hold it in place by hand for the 3-4 seconds it needs.
- I was wondering if there are anyone here has recommendations for any off-the-shelf components they have used, or alternative methods that may be relevant.
#1: Initial revision
by
Pete W
·
2021-01-13T16:02:58Z (almost 4 years ago)
recommendation for chip programming connection (pogo?)
_Background:_ I have several microcontroller based projects with custom PCB that have been in very-low-volume production, but the quantities are starting to go up. (batch sizes ~100 and threatening to go to ~1000). The economics here are such that part cost is a secondary concern. I don't feel ready to commit to having the chips pre-programmed, and while I have a bootloader, it is considerably slower than flashing the chip using it's in-system-programming feature. So far I have put a dedicated picoblade programming header for simplicity, but even this is starting to be a nuisance, and a waste of footprint space. _Question_: Looking for recommendations for alternatives, experiences, etc. I have seen customized programming devices with pogo connectors (some very slick ones, in fact), with unmasked pads on the receiving end on the device to be programmed, and fancy alignment mechanisms. In particular I was thinking of using something like a 1.27mm thru-hole footprint with smaller holes than the pogos to receive the connections, rather than flat pads. Then maybe ok for the person doing the programming to just hold it in place by hand for the 3-4 seconds it needs. I was wondering if there are anyone here has recommendations for any off-the-shelf components they have used, or alternative methods that may be relevant.