What You’ll Learn in this Article 

Q: What types of ATE does Cyth build?

A: Cyth builds custom automated test equipment (ATE) systems that help engineering and manufacturing teams automate manual benchtop and production test processes, improving repeatability, throughput, and data reliability across production runs.

Cyth designs and delivers systems for functional circuit test (FCT), functional verification test (FVT), design verification test (DVT), end-of-line production test, electromechanical test, lab automation, reliability and life test, manufacturing QA/QC/SPC, RF and wireless validation, and battery characterization. All systems are built on NI hardware and programmed in LabVIEW and NI TestStand.

Q: What is the difference between FCT, FVT, and FAT?

A: FCT (Functional Circuit Test) tests the PCBA itself at the board level; FVT (Functional Verification Test) tests the fully assembled final product; FAT (Factory Acceptance Test) is a formal test confirming a system meets customer specifications before shipment. Cyth regularly designs ATE for all these testing phases from a core platform capable of application-specific customizations.

Q: What types of products can Cyth build ATE for?

A: Cyth builds ATE for PCBAs, modules and subassemblies, final assembled products, RF and wireless devices, electromagnetic devices, and electromechanical systems. If it has electronics, Cyth can test it.Cyth ATE Platforms

Q: What is PCBACheck?

A: PCBACheck is Cyth's pre-engineered ATE platform for PCBA functional test. It uses 90% standard, 10% custom architecture with pre-validated hardware, software, fixturing, and data infrastructure ready for deployment. It dramatically reduces the time and cost of standing up a production FCT system compared to building from scratch.

Q: What is BatteryCheck?

A: BatteryCheck is Cyth's ready-to-use platform for validation and characterization of battery cells and packs, covering lithium-ion, LiPo, NiMH, 18650, pouch cells, and smart battery packs. It supports standard manufacturing tests (OCV, ACIR, DCIR, charge/discharge rates) out of the box, with full customization capabilities for extended characterization, life testing, and user-defined scenarios.

Q: Does Cyth build fully custom ATE beyond these platforms?

A: Yes, for applications outside PCBA and battery test, Cyth engineers fully custom ATE systems using the same NI PXI and LabVIEW/TestStand stack. Examples include dual-station EMF test systems for medical devices, RF validation rigs, and multi-DUT production test stations.

Q: What hardware platforms does Cyth use?

A: Cyth builds ATE systems with NI PXI/PXIe (the industry standard for high-performance, high-channel-count ATE) and NI CompactRIO (rugged, real-time control for embedded or harsh-environment applications) and NI DAQ platforms, including NI CompactDAQ and board-level DAQ (sensor and signal acquisition applications). As an NI Certified Integration Partner and Distributor, Cyth's expertise spans mapping test requirements to the right instrumentation and measurement IP.

Q: What types of measurements can Cyth ATE systems perform?

A: Cyth ATE systems can generally incorporate any of the I/O available within NI’s PXI/PXIe module and C Series catalogs, including: power and electrical (voltage, current, power sequencing), digital (I/O, PWM, clocks), analog (ADC/DAC, sensors, audio), communications (RS-232, SPI, I²C, CAN, JTAG, UART), RF and wireless (Bluetooth, BLE, Wi-Fi), firmware upload and validation, and EMF/EMC measurement. Battery-specific measurements (ACIR, DCIR, charge profiles, thermal imaging) are also supported via Cyth’s BatteryCheck reference architecture.

Q: Can Cyth ATE systems test multiple units simultaneously?

A: Multi-DUT configurations are standard. PCBACheck bed-of-nails fixtures can support the test of up to eight boards simultaneously. Cyth has delivered dual-station production systems where one operator manages multiple test stations in parallel.

Q: What role does switching play in ATE, and how does Cyth handle it?

A: Switching routes signals between a DUT and test instrumentation; it is one of the more technically demanding aspects of any ATE system. A well-designed switch architecture enables a single instrument to serve many test points, reducing hardware cost and improving utilization. A poorly designed switch architecture can introduce crosstalk, measurement error, and increase the risk of test escapes.

Cyth designs switching architectures using NI PXIe switch modules across multiplexer, matrix, and relay-based topologies. In PCBACheck, the fixture, interposer, and switch architecture form an integrated signal path managed by software that sequences channel connections throughout the test. That signal path design and associated measurement IP is a core part of what Cyth delivers.

Q: What is a bed-of-nails fixture, and does Cyth design them?

A: A bed-of-nails fixture uses spring-loaded pogo pins to make simultaneous contact with hundreds of test points on a PCBA to enable fast, repeatable board-level test. Cyth designs custom bed-of-nails fixtures in-house, including clamshell, pneumatic, and multi-up configurations.

Q: Can Cyth ATE systems handle RF and wireless testing?

A: Cyth has delivered ATE with RF test coverage including Bluetooth/BLE signal quality, RF power and frequency measurement, and protocol validation, using vector signal analyzers and shielded enclosures to isolate the DUT from EMF.

Q: What software does Cyth use to program ATE systems?

A: All Cyth ATE systems are built on NI LabVIEW for hardware communication, signal acquisition, custom algorithms, and NI TestStand for test sequencing, operator interfaces, reporting, and database connectivity. Existing IP or test developed in Python and C# can be easily incorporated into test sequences.

Q: Does Cyth ATE include datalogging and compliance reporting?

A: Automated data capture, test report generation, and database connectivity are standard in every Cyth ATE system. Test for regulated industries such as Medical Devices, Aerospace, and Defense, and Energy can leverage this data infrastructure to support traceability and audit requirements.

Q: What industries does Cyth build ATE for?

A: Cyth has delivered ATE systems across life sciences, medical devices, aerospace and defense, consumer electronics, energy and industrial, including IIoT sensors, power electronics, wireless, audio, wearables, and patient-facing diagnostic devices.

To see examples of our past work, visit our case study hub.

Q: Ready to discuss test automation?

A: Cyth's engineering team will work with you to understand your DUT, test requirements, production volume, and timeline, to recommend the right approach.