Automating AVR Programming - Production Programming

[bipolunipol]

Hello!

I am preparing a small production series of devices. They will include the ATTINY414 microcontroller. Now I would like to create a fixture for testing (measuring voltages and currents) and programming devices: after inserting the PCB into fixture, I would like to upload the test program (AVR microcontroller with 1-wire UPDI for programming), measure the currents and voltages, upload the target program and measure the currents and voltages again.

And now I am wondering how to automate it so that I do not have to read the measurements from the meters myself and manually start the programmer?

Is there any software that can help me automate the AVR programming and testing process?

[Siwastaja]

Normal scripting tools get you far; .sh in unix, maybe Powershell if you are a Windows guy.

I have done this with .sh scripts and once their capabilities run out, custom C programs, but that's only because I like to work with C. Many would choose Python scripting instead.

In any case, if you are capable of writing the AVR firmware in C, some production automation code (in C or whatever) should be easy compared to that.

Basically, get some SCPI power supplies and multimeters etc. Like
echo "OUTP ON" > /dev/ttyUSB0

Then just call avrdude in your script. You can loop it until it returns success, this way simply detecting when the AVR is connected to the fixture.

[RoGeorge]

- custom mechanical fixture (can be handmade if the batch is small, a fixture with a hinge)
- no connectors (use pogo-pins instead)
- design the board such that it allows in circuit programming, with the board fully assambled
- write your own scripts to program the AVR (use AVR DUDE in command line mode)
- write some extra SCPI scripts to automate powering up and measuring (you have to have SCPI enabled instruments)
- give an unique ID to each board and each production batch, log and store all the individual test results
- do NOT include any manual interventions or human decisions during the test procedure, other than placing the board inside and closing the lid of the mechanical fixture

Connect all to a PC and make the scripts such that when the lid of the test fixture is closed, the test procedure starts automatically, and return to the operator only a binary PASS/FAIL verdict.

[voltsandjolts]

custom bed-of-nails program & test pcb, perhaps with 3D printed pcb holder
+
scpi psu
+
keysight 34970A  or 34972A with scanner card 34901A, io card 34907A
+
avr dude
+
python to glue it all together and make a nice pdf test report for each board


scpi psu and 34970A etc can be had on ebay, perhaps all for less than GBP1000

[bipolunipol]

Thank you for your help!

Regarding the programmer - I have MPLAB Snap In-Circuit Debugger / Programmer (PG164100). Will it be possible to make use of such a programmer and control its work from the level of the mentioned scripts? (AVRDUDE e.g. does not support new TINY414 chips and this programmer.)

And regarding pogo-pins - will it be a good solution to use a ready-made TC2030 connector, attached to the designed fixture? After inserting the PCB, this connector will be adjacent to the board.

[Gribo]

Microchip (AVR) Studio has the ATprogram utility. You can use it to program and set the fuses however you want. I recently built a 6-up programmer using 6 Atmel ICEs. You can call them by the Atmel ICE SN.
Pay attention that certain Intel boards in Windows 10  have a limit on the number of identical devices connected to a single USB hub (4 work, 6 won't).