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INGUN Test Probe Features

Spring Loaded Test Probes
Order Part Number Prefix = GKS

Spring Loaded Test Probes (GKS) are basically manufactured in three parts. All parts must be manufactured with a very high precision, as is demanded by the micro-electronics industry.

The Plunger with its contact/tip styles is the main part visible externally.With the highest possible pressure the plunger ensures the smallest transition resistance for the exactitude of the measurement,

The Spring as the active part of the Test Probe ensures the necessary contact pressure even after several hundered thousand strokes. The specified spring forces are reached with the recommended operating stroke and are subject to tolerances in the range of 10-15 % due to the very small component size and tolerances in production.

The Barrel contains the plunger and the spring. If the diameter of the plunger is less than the diameter of the barrel, the latter determines the smallest distance to the other probes,


FIG 1. Drawing of a typical probe with the barrel cut-away to show the spring and the lower end of the plunger.

Test Probe Receptacles
Order Part Number Prefix = KS

The Receptacle (KS) enables an easy interchange of the Spring Loaded Test Probes for maintenance and service of the Test Fixtures. No wiring or soldering is necessary. Crimps on the side are used for this. Exception: Test Probes with a through plunger. Here the electrical connection is made direct on the plunger with solder. Thus the wire must be removed before changing the probe.


FIG 2. Receptacle with wire-wrap post. Special Designation "47"

FIG 3. Receptacle with open bore solder connection. Special Designation "23"

FIG 4. Receptacle with closed-end solder connection. Special Designation "30"

FIG 5. Receptacle with plug connection. Special Designation "35"

FIG 6. Receptacle pre-wired with solid or flexible wire. Special Designation "V"


Distance Sleeves
Order Part Number Prefix = DS

Distance Sleeves (DS) enable a change in the probes extension height and also guarantee the desired dimensions for special applications.

Plating Materials

Hard gold, chemical (electroless) nickel and rhodium are used. The choice of plating material is dependent upon the following functional considerations.

Hard gold: best chemical resistance, hardness 150-200 HV Particularly important as a protection against oxidation and corrosion.
Rhodium: high resistance to wear, hardness 600-1000 HV; very brittle. Application for special requirements in the capacity of resistance to wear for plungers. Due to the high brittleness not suitable for aggressive tip styles in combination with high spring forces.
Chemical (electroless) nickel: very good chemical resistance hardness 400-600 HV Especially important due to the accurate shape deposit. Very suitable as wear-resistant coating for plungers and due to its relatively high ductility also very suitable for aggressive tipstyles, e.g. flexi tip.
Aurun: Gold alloy specially-developed for Test Probes with very good chemical resistance, hardness 300-350 HV. Suitable for aggressive tip styles for testing contaminated boards. See also Press Release.

All coating materials guarantee a maximum sureness of contacting due to the very low specifc resistances of 4-8 uOhms.

Collar Height and Extension Height

The Extension Height is the distance between the tip of a non activated Spring Loaded Test Probe and the Probe Location Board. The Spring Loaded Test Probes are usually available with different Collar Heights for regulation of the Extension Height. Furthermore, an additional distance sleeve is available for certain production series which allows fine adjustment of the Extension Height.

FIG 7. Illustration of the relationship of Collar Height, the smaller numbers, to Extension Height.

Nominal Current

The maximal current that can be transfered by Ingun Test Probes depends on the sizes of the different parts, the spring force and the plunger's material. For plungers we can say: beryllium copper and brass can transfer higher currents than steel.

Temperature Range

Ingun Test Probes can be used at an temperature range from 0 degrees to 80 degrees C. For lower or higher temperatures please ask for our special solutions.

"Wobble" and Minimum Test Point Size

Due to the necessary play between plunger and barrel of a Spring Loaded Test Probe, the tip can be deflected away from the ideal position to the left or to the right. This deviation, the so-called "wobble", has been measured at INGUN by means of a measuring apparatus, which has been specially developed for this purpose. The Test Fixture tolerances have also been taken into consideration for determination of the Minimum Test Point Size. The Minimum Test Point Size is specified for all common and most used Test Probes and relates to their use in INGUN Test Fixtures.

Life Expectancy of Ingun Spring Loaded Test Probes

For the determination of the life expectancy of the Spring Loaded Test Probes INGUN subjects them continuously to long-term tests with fully automated, computer controlled Test Stands. Here important parameters such as transition resistance or spring forces throughout the life of Spring Loaded Test Probes can be determined. The experience gained from these procedures flows directly into the development and design. Thus a state-of-the-art, high quality standard is guaranteed. Life expectancy of a Spring Loaded Test Probes is a function of parameters such as working stroke, spring force, axial load, current load and ambient influences such as contamination and heat influence.

The life expectancy for INGUN Spring Loaded Test Probes is for:

Probes in the 1.27 mm grid: 100,000 strokes
Probes in the 2.54 mm grid: 1,000,000 strokes
Rotating Probes: 100,000 strokes
Pneumatic Probes: 100,000 strokes
Dual-Stage-Probes: 100,000 strokes

These laboratory values are based on results of investigations performed in our development department and are valid for the recommended stroke, the specified current loadability and the standard spring force.



Go to Test Probe Selection List or Tip Style Descriptions or the Ingun (UK) Home Page





UK and International Orders: Ingun (UK) Ltd, Victoria House, Desborough Street, High Wycombe, Buckinghamshire, HP11 2NF, UK, Tel: +44(0)1494 601096 Fax: +44(0)1494 601097 E-mail: probe@ingun.co.uk

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