Abstract: A vacuum ring on a component testing system includes a metallic base material defining a vacuum-communicating passageway. A ceramic layer on the base material, preferably 20-100 micrometers thick and formed by a micro-arc oxidation process resulting in molecular adhesion, improves abrasion resistance and makes the vacuum ring more arc-over proof. A test plate for holding DUTs includes such a ceramic layer that provides better wear while enabling use of the base as a guard layer during testing. Another aspect of the invention concerns a vacuum ring having an eject hole pattern for discharging compressed gas toward DUTs in order to eject DUTs from a test plate. The eject hole pattern includes a plurality of closely spaced apart holes, each measuring less than the size that would be large enough to receive a DUT having the predetermined minimum cross sectional area.

Abstract: A replaceable roller turns on an axle supported at the end of a cantilever arm. The roller is preferably brass or other highly conductive, durable material for making electrical contact with a terminal of an electrical device, e.g. a ceramic capacitor. The arm is made from a highly conductive, resilient material. There are a plurality of such arms with rollers connected in parallel to a holding module, preferably with the rollers aligned. The holding module is secured to a structure, e.g. a component test handler jig, and provides a conductive path between each roller/cantilever arm assembly and the test jig. In operation a stream of components are indexed to the rollers such that their terminals are aligned with the rollers. The rollers intrude slightly into the path of the compnents so that as they are indexed to the rollers, the components deflect the rollers causing them to roll across the components' terminals.