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TechQuiet 88d · day 88

Raspberry Pi CM5 Programming Jig enables production-scale module flashing

Jeff Geerling demonstrates a bed-of-nails fixture for rapidly flashing Compute Module 5s, addressing limitations of existing solutions.

What to know

  • Existing Compute Module 5 flashing solutions—IO boards, Nebra Flashstick—have design flaws: Hirose connectors rated for only 20-40 insertions, insufficient power delivery, and labor-intensive operation unsuitable for production runs.
  • The CM5 Programming Jig uses bed-of-nails test point connectors on the module's underside, enabling rapid, repeated flashing without connector wear limits.
  • Raspberry Pi witnessed these reliability challenges firsthand during their own high-volume CM4 automation production and designed the jig to solve the problem at scale.

“if you look up the spec sheets for these things, they're only rated for like 20 or 40 insertions before they are not going to meet their rated specification for like insertion loss and all that.”

Jeff Geerling, Tech YouTuber · YouTube video

Jeff GeerlingJeff Geerling Tech YouTuber and reviewerRaspberry Pi Foundation Hardware manufacturer

The record 2 articles and posts · last 30 days

  1. Hands-on with Raspberry Pi's CM5 Programming Jig post · Hacker News · Brajeshwar · 87d ago · 1▲
  2. Mastodon · geerlingguy
    [0:00] Long-term viewers of the channel might recognize this guy. This is the Balena Etcher Pro, and you plug in power… post · Mastodon · geerlingguy · 87d ago · 22▲