Description
Motorola MVME167-33B | VME SBC Ready To Ship Today
Architect’s Product Breakdown
The Motorola MVME167-33B is a dependable 32-bit single-board computer engineered for demanding VMEbus industrial automation environments. Powered by an MC68040 processor featuring integrated floating-point and memory management capabilities, this module handles local task execution, hardware control, and high-speed data transfer across the backplane chassis without needing secondary coprocessor cards.
Deploying this hardware requires precise configuration of onboard jumper blocks for base memory mapping, interrupt request levels, and communication parameters. Because these embedded systems operate in continuous-duty industrial plants, ensuring proper cabinet thermal ventilation and verifying strict adherence to rack power budgets are essential to prevent premature hardware faults.
Utilizing the MVME167-33B enables maintenance teams to maintain legacy VME infrastructures efficiently, avoiding the significant downtime and expensive software rewrites associated with complete system platform migrations.
MVME167-33B
Key Technical Specifications
| Technical Parameter | Specification Detail |
| Part Number | MVME167-33B |
| Manufacturer | Motorola / VMEbus Platforms |
| Processor Architecture | Motorola MC68040 32-bit Microprocessor |
| Bus Interface | VMEbus Standard Compliant (System Controller capable) |
| Memory Configuration | Onboard DRAM and flash/ROM sockets for firmware storage |
| Communication Ports | Serial communication channels for console and device management |
| Operating Temperature | 0°C to 55°C (32°F to 131°F) |
| Form Factor | Standard VMEbus single-height circuit card |
Field Engineer’s Pitfall Guide
- WARNING: Electrostatic Discharge Vulnerability. The high-density surface-mount components on this CPU board are extremely sensitive to static electricity. Always utilize an ESD-safe grounded wrist strap during handling.
- WARNING: Base Address and Interrupt Conflicts. Replacing a failed board without matching the exact jumper configurations for memory mapping and interrupt levels will cause immediate bus collisions and system faults.
- WARNING: Firmware/Flash Corruption. Interrupted power cycles during flash memory writes or using incorrect programming routines can render the boot sector unreadable.
Field Anecdote: During an emergency service window on a manufacturing line controller, a technician swapped an ailing MVME167-33B with a warehouse spare without verifying the onboard jumper blocks. The replacement card booted up but immediately generated a bus timeout error because the base memory address jumpers were set to factory default rather than the custom offset required by their legacy I/O mapping. Aligning the jumpers cleared the fault instantly.
QA & Testing SOP (Transparency)
- Visual & Origin Inspection: Inspected under optical magnification for PCB trace continuity, clean solder joints, and verified against OEM serial tracking databases.
- Live Test Bench Environment: Inserted into a calibrated VMEbus test chassis to verify regulated power supply rails and stable clock frequencies.
- Diagnostics & Handshake Verification: Technicians execute comprehensive memory diagnostic routines and serial loopback tests to confirm error-free instruction processing.
- Configuration & Packaging: Test routines are cleared, connector pins are protected, and units are sealed inside multi-layer anti-static shielding bags.
Technical FAQ
Can I hot-swap this single-board computer while the VME chassis is powered on?
No. VMEbus architectures do not support live hot-swapping. Inserting or removing the MVME167-33B while the rack is energized will cause electrical arcing and permanent damage to backplane bus drivers.
How are the system firmware and boot loader initialized?
Boot firmware and low-level initialization routines are stored on onboard flash memory or physical ROM/EPROM devices accessible to the processor during power-up.
Does the module require an external battery for parameter retention?
Certain system configurations utilize an onboard lithium battery or external backup circuit to maintain volatile static RAM settings and real-time clock data during power outages.
