Probing small SMT pieces

[mazurov]

Looking for ideas on how to probe small SMT pieces on a PCB. Mine is on the pictures. I can probe all right under an optical microscope but then I can't see the oscilloscope screen. Digital has issues (or rather I do) with depth perception and I can't place the probe reliably so I have to turn off the supply,  place the probe, turn on the supply, and only then operate the scope, take screenshots, etc. Are there better ways to do it?

[MathWizard]

Any time I'm working on small chips, I pretty don't touch them unless I solder on some little wires 1st. And that's with fairly large pitch chips. I'm sure there's lots of chips I don't even have wire fine enough for their pitch.

My hands are not that bad, but I don't trust my self on chips I own, let alone if I was working on some one else gear.

[julian1]

I have been really tempted by these

[TheUnnamedNewbie]

I have no idea what they cost second hand, but probe-station XYZ stages could be solution? It's what we use to probe bare silicon dies, so they have very precise control.

[Haenk]

Quick note: Do not use antistatic foil to place your PCB on - it is conductive and will very likely alter your measurements.

Other than that, there are not horrible expensive (used) XY-tables for microscopes available, which are also very accurate.

You may also want to take a look at https://sensepeek.com/
cheaper would be a "helping hand" (or "3rd hand"), those are usually only a couple of EUR/USD...

Edit: Hah. Julian beat me to it. Note to self - don't write a comment while working and submit it much later

[mazurov]

I have no idea what they cost second hand, but probe-station XYZ stages could be solution? It's what we use to probe bare silicon dies, so they have very precise control.

That's what I meant to ask next :-).  I don't have access to one anymore and can't recall the layout. Do you know how they place the probes so that they don't block the view?

[mazurov]

Quick note: Do not use antistatic foil to place your PCB on - it is conductive and will very likely alter your measurements.

My HP34401A disagrees. In my experience, similar-looking anti-static materials have very different resistance so I always measure. Foil and pink PE are often OK as well as pink foam, bubble wrap etc. while black foam is often too conductive for anything but storage.

[mazurov]

PCBite is the ticket. Usable for pitches down to at least 0.35mm, fits perfectly into my setup by directly attaching to the vice base. The included grabber is very shitty for some reason but this is normal for included grabbers.

[LaryPant]

I have no idea what they cost second hand, but probe-station XYZ stages could be solution? It's what we use to probe bare silicon dies, so they have very precise control.

That's what I meant to ask next :-).  I don't have access to one anymore and can't recall the layout. Do you know how they place the probes so that they don't block the view?

At the university lab were I worked on characterizing nanomaterials they use these XYZ probe stations with very thin needles as probes - they pretty much looked like sewing needles - and they interfaced with the pads at an angle of 45 degrees or thereabout and they did not block the view through the microscope.

[Kjelt]

PCBite is the ticket.

Agree, friend of mine uses Sensepeek PCBite for over a year and is very happy with it.