In Circuit Test (ICT) in Teststand

Hello Community,
I am using NI PXI equipment with Dev Suite 2012 with Teststand/Switch Executive for a dual stage test fixture (ICT & FCT).
Are there any methods or software by NI or third parties for developing the ICT portion of my test process easier? NI does a great job with functional test, but is there a good way to do ICT?
Currently I am using a DMM, Switch Card, and Guard Amp. Writing a bunch of lines of code in teststand to toggle the switches on the card. Was wondering if there was a simpler way.
Thank you,
Kevin
Solved!
Go to Solution.

I would like to be able to read the values from an excel spreadsheet into a VI. Create a Teststand Pass/Fail Sequence with one line of code using the VI.
The VI will have a For Loop that runs down the list of my spreadsheet. It will read R1 from the list, toggle the switches and guard amplifier on for R1 at the specified test points, take a measured reading, compare the measured value to the value range (900 to 1100 ohms), and return a result of pass or fail.
Example Spreadsheet:
ID
Value
Test Point 1
Test Point 2
Type
R1
1.00k
TP1
TP2
Resistor
R2
10.0k
TP3
TP4
Resistor
My reasoning behind this is to standardize an ICT procedure with teststand. To be able to add and edit resistors or capacitors to be tested straight into the spreadsheet instead of the method I am doing now which is time consuming and messy. For each resistor I want to test it takes me about 5 lines of code to setup in teststand...
Connect Switches
Connect Guard Amp
VI Numeric Limit Test
Disconnect Switches
Disconnect Guard Amp
I am open to suggestions, if there is a better way to do ICT or a way to speed up the process & setup of those 5 lines above? It just seems like doing ICT with NI Equipment is tedious.

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Message Edited by crelf on 09-22-2008 10:19 PM
Message Edited by crelf on 09-22-2008 10:19 PM
Copyright © 2004-2015 Christopher G. Relf. Some Rights Reserved. This posting is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 2.5 License.

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Dennis-
Your application sounds very well suited to TestStand's abilities. I am also quite impressed with your knowledge of how TestStand's architecture is arranged when you are still just considering whether or not to use it.
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ontrol TestStand using a DIO board. I think this is very feasible and should not be too difficult. Since TestStand provides you the ability to create a custom operator interface your operator interface could monitor the status of your DIO board and launch/abort executions based on the read values. Usually the executions are launched/aborted when a button on the GUI is pressed however, I do not see any thing different about basing the action on a DI signal vs a mouse click. I am sure your application is more involved than this high level description but from the sounds of it I think it is very possible to do with TestStand.
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Richard McDonell
National Instruments

In Circuit Test (ICT) in Teststand

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