Gain a Competitive Edge with Verifiable Product Durability.

When building a new reliability lab, several key pieces of reliability testing equipment form the foundation. First and foremost is a versatile environmental test chamber for temperature and humidity cycling, which is the workhorse for most reliability testing. For electronics and other products susceptible to thermal fatigue, a rapid rate temperature exchange chamber or a thermal shock chamber is the next critical addition. To assess durability against physical stresses, a vibration test system (shaker) is essential, especially for products that will be shipped or used in mobile applications. A universal testing machine (UTM) is also a fundamental tool for characterizing the strength of the materials being used in the product. Depending on the product, this core set can be expanded with more specialized equipment like salt spray chambers or dust testers. WBE can act as a consultant to help you specify and acquire this foundational set of reliability testing equipment.

Reliability testing equipment is a family of machines designed to simulate a wide range of real-world and accelerated stresses. The most prominent category is environmental testing equipment, which includes temperature and humidity chambers, thermal shock chambers, rapid rate temperature chambers, and salt spray chambers for corrosion tests. The second major category is mechanical testing equipment, which assesses physical durability. This includes universal testing machines for tensile and compression strength, vibration test systems (shakers) to simulate transport and operational vibration, and shock testing machines. For specific industries like electronics, this also includes specialized tools like push-pull bond testers. A comprehensive reliability lab, like one equipped by WBE, will have a mix of these systems to get a complete picture of a product's long-term durability.

Reliability testing is a critical component of a successful New Product Introduction (NPI) process. During the early design and prototyping phases, reliability testing equipment is used to perform discovery testing (like HALT) to quickly identify the weakest points in the new design. This allows engineers to make improvements when the cost of change is lowest. As the design matures, the equipment is used for design verification testing (DVT), where the product is tested against its specified reliability goals to ensure it is ready for launch. Finally, during initial production, ongoing reliability testing (ORT) is performed on a sample of products to ensure that the manufacturing process is stable and that the product's reliability has not drifted. Integrating reliability testing equipment throughout the NPI cycle is the best way to ensure a smooth, successful product launch and avoid costly post-launch failures.

Developing a reliability test plan is the first step before using your reliability testing equipment. The process begins by defining the product's expected lifecycle and use environments. Where in the world will it be used? What temperatures will it see? How will it be transported? Next, identify the potential failure modes based on past experience and engineering analysis (FMEA). With this information, you can select the appropriate tests. For example, if solder joint fatigue is a concern, a rapid thermal cycling test is chosen. If shipping damage is a risk, a vibration and drop test is necessary. Finally, you determine the test parameters, such as the temperature range, number of cycles, and vibration profile, often referencing industry standards. This plan provides the roadmap for using your reliability testing equipment to effectively validate the product's durability.