Ralphrmartin,
Yes the unit is not a cheap purchase. Then again it is a European design and company. As such prices tend to be higher than Chinese products. The quality control of the PCBITE is excellent however.
A lot of thought appears to have gone into the PCBITE design. Feedback from purchasers has been taken on board and included in the version 2.0 release.
How do the probes work ?
A fair question and I studied the design before buying. It is actually very clever. Some designers would have made the ‘gooseneck’ quite stiff, like those found on cheap LED gooseneck lights. That approach would use the tension in the flexible arm to apply pressure at the probe tip. Whilst that is the approach that I was also considering, it is not as clever as that used in the PCBITE. The use of pogo stick probes is essential, no matter what approach is taken as the spring loaded probe tips will remain fixed to a pin, test point or connector contact even if small vertical movement occurs in the supporting arm. Now the PCBITE takes a different approach. Whilst it uses lightly sprung pogo test pins , it does not use tension in the flexible ‘gooseneck’ arm to compress the test point spring. It uses gravity
The pogo pin head PCB is attached to a relatively large and beautifully crafted lump of aluminium. This mounting head is deliberately heavy so that the probe pin may be located where you want it on a DUT and once your hand releases it, gravity acts on the weight of the aluminium probe mount to compress the pogo test pin. The compression of the spring in the pogo pin is enough to keep the point attached to the target location. The very flexible gooseneck arm is merely helping to maintain probe position and is not applying downward force on the probe tip, except in terms of gravity acting upon its length. Very clever and IMHO, a very good test probe locating system. Yes I suspect the probe tip may move if the unit is knocked hard enough, but I am careful when probing PCB’s so tend not to jolt anything. This PCBITE probing system may also aid those who have developed shaking in the hands. Once accurately placed and ‘dropped’ the probe will stay put, unlike if held by a shaking hand.
Regarding cheaper magnetic PCB holders..... I agree, China offers many types. I bought the PCBITE but also purchased a Chinese unit afterwards to increase my options and to get a very neat looking magnetic board that can also be used with the PCBITE parts. I like the way the Chinese design offers the brass spike supports that may be removed and replaced with the knurled finger nuts that are stored on the corner feet screws
Details below and pictures provided. It cost less than £18 delivered to the UK. The advantages of cheap labour and subsidised postage eh
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/PCB-Holder-Printed-Circuit-Board-Vise-Fixture-Jig-Soldering-Stand-Clamp-Pillars/352650898918?ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT&_trksid=p2057872.m2749.l2649Fraser
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