Raspberry Pi CM5 Programming Jig Automates Provisioning

The CM5 Programming Jig gives OEMs a dedicated way to provision Raspberry Pi Compute Module 5 boards without building a carrier-board-based flashing station around them. For teams that have already prototyped with the Compute Module 5 Development Kit, the new fixture is aimed at the next stage: repeatedly loading production units with an operating-system image and security configuration. It works with Raspberry Pi’s rpi-sb-provisioner software to automate the process.

Jig Moves Beyond the Carrier Board

The single-head fixture programs one Compute Module 5 at a time. A mechanical clamp holds the module in position while pogo pins make direct electrical contact, so a separate Compute Module carrier board is not needed for provisioning. LED indicators report the current state and provisioning progress.

Raspberry Pi expects higher-volume users to operate multiple jigs in parallel when a single head does not provide enough throughput. Programming time depends on the size of the operating-system image, so the design is less about making one module flash dramatically faster than about making the workflow repeatable and easy to scale.

Networking is handled through Wi-Fi or a Gigabit Ethernet port labeled JIG ETH. A second Gigabit Ethernet connection, DUT ETH, provides a faster path for transferring software to the module being programmed. The front panel also includes a USB boot connection and a 12 V input; the product brief specifies 12 V at 2 A and says the power supply is included.

What the CM5 Programming Jig Automates

Using rpi-sb-provisioner, the jig can handle secure boot implementation, full-disk encryption, and bare operating-system installation as part of an automated provisioning workflow. That makes the unit particularly relevant to engineers moving a CM5-based design from the development bench into small-batch or larger-scale production, where manually flashing and configuring each module quickly becomes a nuisance and a source of inconsistency.

The jig is compatible with Compute Module 5 only. Raspberry Pi lists it at $600 and says it is already in mass production. The underlying Compute Module 5 platform is available with multiple memory, eMMC, and wireless configurations, so the programming fixture is intended to sit alongside an existing CM5 production workflow rather than replace the development hardware used to design the product in the first place.