The PEmicro Cyclone MultiChannel is a high-performance gang programmer for production flash programming: 4, 8, 12 or 16 fully independent programming channels in one ultra-compact, galvanically isolated system. Each channel has its own processor, local storage and I/O, so every target is programmed, verified and serialized in parallel rather than in sequence — turning a single-site Cyclone workflow into panel-level or multi-fixture throughput. It uses the same Cyclone image format, control software and automation SDK as PEmicro’s single-channel Cyclone LC and Cyclone FX programmers, and comes in the same two tiers: LC for ARM Cortex devices and FX for the full PEmicro architecture list with per-channel mixed-device operation. Prices start at $2,800, and Pertech supplies and supports the Cyclone MultiChannel for manufacturers in Israel.
Why choose a gang programmer?
A single-channel production programmer handles one board at a time, so programming time multiplies with every unit on a panel. A gang programmer programs many devices at once: with the Cyclone MultiChannel, 16 targets take roughly the time of one. Because every channel is fully independent — not a shared bus split sixteen ways — a failed or missing board on one channel never stops the others, and each channel reports its own pass/fail result for traceability.
Cyclone MultiChannel gang programmer highlights
- 4 to 16 truly independent channels — each with its own communications processor, local storage and I/O
- Modular four-channel blocks: start with a 4-channel base unit and grow to 8, 12 or 16 channels with QuadPod Channel Expanders, at an excellent cost per channel
- Galvanic isolation — double-insulated power supply and isolated USB-C / Ethernet control — protects the host PC and the line from ground loops across multiple fixtures
- Hashed, verifiable, secure programming images plus per-channel dynamic data and serial numbers, and programming of security bits, fuses and OTP areas
- FX tier adds up to 30 Mb/s per channel, heterogeneous operation (different devices, protocols or images on each channel), programmable target power (1.8–5 V MCU / 2–15 V system), ProCryption image encryption with ImageKey access control, and Run Test code execution before programming
- Thousands of supported devices with no per-device licensing fees, driven from the Cyclone Control Suite GUI, console or SDK for ATE and test-fixture integration
Where this multi-channel programmer earns its keep
- Panelized PCB production, where programming 8 or 16 boards at once removes the programmer as the line bottleneck
- Contract manufacturers (EMS) and ATE/bed-of-nails fixture builders who need one controllable, scriptable system instead of a rack of single-channel programmers
- Mixed-product lines (FX) that program different MCUs or images on neighbouring channels of the same fixture
- IP-sensitive and secure-boot production — automotive, medical, industrial and defense electronics — that requires encrypted images, per-unit serialization and locked security configuration
Cyclone MultiChannel LC vs FX
Choose LC for ARM Cortex production — NXP MCX, Kinetis, LPC and i.MX, and STMicroelectronics STM32 — where targets supply their own power. Choose FX when you also need NXP MPC55xx–57xx, S32 Power, S08, S12Z, HC(S)12(X), DSC or ColdFire V1, Infineon TriCore (AURIX) TC1xx/TC2xx/TC3xx or ST SPC5, maximum per-channel speed, programmable target power, or different device types on different channels. The same split exists in the single-channel range: CYCLONE-LC-UNIV and CYCLONE-FX-UNIV cover the wider architecture list, so images developed on a single Cyclone at the engineering bench move straight to the MultiChannel on the production line.
What’s included with the gang programmer
- Cyclone MultiChannel 4-channel base unit, plus QuadPod Channel Expanders for 8-, 12- and 16-channel configurations
- 15 V / 2.4 A regulated power supply, USB-C and Ethernet control cables
- Software: Cyclone Control Suite (GUI, console and SDK), Image Creation Utility, CSAP Image Compiler, Serial Number Creation Utility, Secure Boot Utility, PROG/CPROG
- Optional target adapters: 50-pin wire-wrap (MCP-ADPT-50-PIN-WW), 10/20-pin mini (MCP-ADPT-1020-PIN-MINI) and 20-pin standard (MCP-ADPT-20-PIN)
Key Specifications
| Spec | Value |
|---|---|
| Programmer type | Multi-channel (gang) production flash programmer |
| Channels | 4, 8, 12 or 16 (4-channel base + QuadPod Channel Expanders) |
| Price | From $2,800 |
| Feature tiers | LC and FX |
| Device support — LC | ARM Cortex: NXP MCX, Kinetis, LPC, i.MX; ST STM32 |
| Device support — FX | All LC devices + NXP MPC55xx–57xx, S32 Power, S08, S12Z, HC(S)12(X), DSC, ColdFire V1/V1+; Infineon TriCore TC1xx/TC2xx/TC3xx; ST SPC5 |
| Per-channel speed (FX) | Up to 30 Mb/s |
| Target power (FX) | 1.8–5 V MCU power or 2–15 V system power; LC auto-senses target-supplied power |
| Security | Hashed, verifiable images; ProCryption encryption with ImageKey (FX) |
| Target connector | 50-pin, 2.54 mm per four-channel block |
| Host control | USB-C and Ethernet, galvanically isolated |
| Power input | 6–20 V DC, center positive (15 V / 2.4 A supply included) |
| Host OS | Windows 10 (32/64-bit), Windows 11 (64-bit) |
| Compliance | CE, FCC, RoHS |
Frequently asked questions
How is the Cyclone MultiChannel different from a standard Cyclone programmer?
A standard Cyclone LC or FX programs one target at a time. The Cyclone MultiChannel packs 4 to 16 fully independent programming channels, each with its own processor, storage and I/O, into one isolated system controlled over USB-C or Ethernet, so a whole panel or several fixtures are programmed in parallel using the same Cyclone images and software.
Can each channel program a different device or image?
Yes on the FX model, which supports heterogeneous per-channel operation with different protocols, device types or images on each channel. The LC model runs ARM Cortex devices across its channels and supports per-channel dynamic data such as unique serial numbers.
Can I start with 4 channels and expand later?
Yes. The gang programmer is built from four-channel blocks: a 4-channel base unit is extended to 8, 12 or 16 channels with QuadPod Channel Expanders, each block using a standard 50-pin connector to the fixture.
Can the Cyclone MultiChannel be integrated into automated test equipment?
Yes. The Cyclone Control Suite includes a console application and an SDK, so the gang programmer can be launched, monitored and logged from ATE software, test-fixture controllers or production scripts over USB-C or Ethernet.
Are there per-device license fees?
No. PEmicro supports thousands of devices on the Cyclone MultiChannel with no per-device licensing fees; new device support arrives through software updates.
Cyclone MultiChannel video
Watch PEmicro’s overview of the Cyclone MultiChannel gang programmer: the base unit, QuadPod channel expansion and parallel production programming.
Watch “PEmicro Cyclone MultiChannel Flash Programmer” on YouTube
Documentation and resources
- Cyclone MultiChannel user manual (online)
- Hardware guide — base unit, QuadPod expanders and 50-pin connectors
- Multi-channel programming overview
- Creating and deploying programming images
- Cyclone Control Suite (GUI and console) guide
- Cyclone Control SDK for ATE and automation
- Channel target-powering options
- ProCryption image encryption
- Run Test — executing test code before programming
- Cyclone MultiChannel installation download
- PEmicro Cyclone MultiChannel product page — full documentation, downloads, release notes and REACH/RoHS certificates
Related products at Pertech
- PEmicro Cyclone production programmer range
- CYCLONE-LC-ARM and CYCLONE-FX-ARM single-channel ARM programmers
- CYCLONE-LC-UNIV and CYCLONE-FX-UNIV multi-architecture programmers
- P&E Microcomputer Systems overview
Cyclone MultiChannel gang programmer prices start at $2,800. Contact Pertech for a quote, channel-count sizing and adapter selection for your fixture.
