BY MARTIN ROWE, Senior Technical Editor, Test & Measurement
EDN and EE Times
www.edn.com , www.eetimes.com
How many times have you needed a third (or fourth) hand to hold your PCB while you probe it or repair it? While there are many inexpensive PCB holders on the market, the ClampMan has the versatility and safety that you may need when working on expensive prototype boards, particularly while they’re powered.
If you have an expensive prototype, you won’t want to risk damaging it. The ClampMan lets you hold boards with its nonconductive holders. Lower-priced holding tools that we’ve seen use metal holders. One wrong move and, poof, there goes your only prototype board.
The ClampMan is not for the casual troubleshooter for it carries a hefty price tag: The ClampMan Classic costs $1,899, while the ClampMan Light (single arm) costs $1,595. Shipping to U.S. and Canada adds approximately $400.
The Classic version comes with accessories that let you attach an array of devices such as probes and cameras. The ClampMan classic can hold your board and two additional items with its two hydraulic arms and numerous attachments. The arms let you position your probes (it holds two) in place and they will stay there. The ClampMan Light comes with a clamp that holds small boards. Heavy bases prevent the ClampMan from sliding while you probe or solder.
The ClampMan is distributed in North America by Picotest, a company that specializes in test equipment and training for power and signal integrity.
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