PCB Probes

Objectives

• Connect quickly and effectively to PCB traces
• Be cheap and easy to make
• Allow in-circuit reprogramming of microcontrollers

Process

• Tested various designs for probes
• Decided on clothespin because it pushes down on board
• Designed PCB tip in KiCad, milled on CNC machine
• Designed socket to make swapping probe tips easy, and aligner to keep probe centered
• Socket and aligner 3D printed in PLA
• Socket, aligner and magnets superglued to clothespin
• Clothespins magnetically attracted to base, an extra toaster tray
• PCB secured to base with double-sided tape

Reflection

• Probes were able to program an ATtiny chip in circuit on a PCB- it was a success
• If the magnets were stronger, setup would be easier
• This project was featured on hackaday.com: https://hackaday.com/2022/02/27/need-to-probe-circuits-remember-about-clothespins/