Feedthrough Plates

All of FixturFab's test fixture bases come standard with a blank Feedthrough Plate that can be customized for any panel mounted connector, feedthrough, or inlet that can then be used to connect to instrumentation or test probes within the fixture.

Blank Feedthrough Plates

The Models and Drawings for the blank plates of our standard fixture bases can be downloaded below.

• DEV260 and DEV2112
• Dev Pro
• Dev Pro XL
• MA2x11
  • STEP Model
  • DXF Drawing
• MA2x12
  • STEP Model
  • DXF Drawing
• MA2x13
  • STEP Model
  • DXF Drawing
• MA2x14
  • STEP Model
  • DXF Drawing

Customization Paths

There are three ways to get a feedthrough plate with the cutouts you need:

Self-Machining

Download the blank plate STEP and DXF files, design your connector cutouts in CAD, and machine the plate yourself or through your shop. This gives you full control over the design and timeline. Best when you have in-house machining capability or a preferred vendor.

Pinout Specification

Define a pinout for connectors from FixturFab's supported set, and FixturFab machines the plate for you. You specify connector types, positions, and signal assignments — FixturFab handles the mechanical design and fabrication. Best when you know exactly what connectivity you need but want FixturFab to handle the metalwork.

Full Custom Design

For complex connectivity requirements — high-density connector layouts, integrated cable assemblies, or non-standard feedthrough types — FixturFab designs and fabricates a fully custom plate. You describe the test system requirements, and FixturFab engineers the plate to match. Best for production fixtures deploying to contract manufacturers where the fixture must be self-contained and operator-proof.

Common Connector Types

Typical feedthrough configurations include:

Connector Type	Application
D-Sub (DB9, DB25)	Serial communication, GPIO
Circular (M12, M8)	Industrial I/O, sensors
USB	Device programming, data
Power connectors	DUT power supply
BNC	RF signals, oscilloscope
RJ45	Ethernet testing

Design Considerations

• Connector spacing — Leave at least 5mm clearance between connector cutouts for mounting hardware. Panel-mount nuts and retaining clips need room on the interior face.
• Cable routing — Plan cable paths from each connector to the probe plate or TPCB. FixturFab fixtures include internal tie-down points for cable management. Route power and signal cables separately to reduce noise.
• Labeling — Feedthrough plates can be engraved with connector labels, signal names, or port numbers. Specify labeling when ordering a machined plate, or engrave after self-machining.
• CM deployment — Feedthrough plate design matters most when fixtures ship to contract manufacturers. Label every connector clearly, use keyed connectors where possible, and document the pinout. An operator at a CM should be able to cable up the fixture without ambiguity.