Multi-Channel (Gang) Programmer - Buyer's Guide
Things to consider when purchasing a Multi-Channel Programmer. The questions below are intended to help compare multi-channel programmers on practical production concerns: throughput, reliability, automation, physical integration, data handling, security, and long-term cost. After each question, we explain why the point matters and what the answer is for the Cyclone MultiChannel Programmer.
Join us at the Microchip MASTERS 26
We'll be present at Innovation night from 7pm to 10pm on Tuesday, and on the Main Hall booth between 10am to 7pm MST on Wednesday. We'll be demoing our new Cyclone MultiChannel, as well as providing the world's first sneak peak at our PEmicro Visual Studio Code Extension with Microchip MPLAB and its ability to do operating system tracing within Perfetto. We hope to see you there!
Join us at this year's Microchip MASTERS 26, August 10th to 13th 2026 at the JW Marriott Phoenix Desert Ridge Resort & Spa, in Phoenix, Arizona USA.
Add Support For GigaDevice GD32A711 and GD32A712
With the release of Cyclone software v11.72 and PROG-HL-ARM software v10.07.01, PEmicro development and production programmers now support the GigaDevice GD32A71x microcontrollers. The GD32A711 and GD32A712 automotive MCU series is based on a Cortex®-M7 with up to 2 MB of flash memory. GD32A71x series high-performance MCUs features a mature integration of in-house developed IP to ensure strong system efficiency and design flexibility. The device supports ISO 26262 functional safety up to ASIL-B, and incorporates advanced security capabilities, including EVITA-Full compliance and support for Chinese commercial cryptographic algorithms SM2, SM3, and SM4, ensuring robust protection for automotive applications. The series provides rich automotive communication interfaces, including up to 8x CAN FD, 12x LIN, 6x USART/LIN, and 1x Ethernet, enabling flexible in-vehicle networking architectures. It also supports a wide 2.97V to 5.5V supply range, along with strong ESD/EFT immunity to enhance system reliability in demanding automotive environments. Designed for demanding operating conditions, the GD32A71x operates across a wide ambient temperature range from -40°C to +125°C and is qualified to AEC-Q100 Grade 1 and IATF 16949:2016 standards, following a zero-defect quality philosophy for automotive-grade reliability.
STMicroelectronics STM32C5 RDP Regression Guide
PEmicro's development tools and production programmers support life-cycle management with readout protection (RDP) on STM32C5 devices. This article explains the STM32C5 security model and walks through provisioning regression passwords and performing RDP regression using PROGACMP and related PEmicro utilities. Tool support note: PEmicro tools support OEMKEY-based RDP regression from RDP2 to RDP0. Boundary scan operations are not currently supported — this includes the BSKEY transition from RDP2 with boundary scan to RDP2, and OEMKEY regression from the RDP2 with boundary scan state. If you use PEmicro tools for life-cycle management, plan to transition directly between RDP0 and RDP2. For background on STM32 families that support OEM-password RDP regression, see our earlier article on [STM32U-series RDP regression]. The STM32C5 workflow is similar, but there are important differences in RDP levels, key sizes, and tool configuration that are covered below.STMicroelectronics: Securing and Recovering STM32C5 Devices with RDP Regression
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Cyclone MultiChannel Programmer Launched!
PEmicro has launched the Cyclone MultiChannel Programmer, a new production programming platform capable of simultaneously programming up to 16 devices in a compact, modular form factor. Designed for manufacturing environments where throughput, reliability, automation, and form factor are critical, the Cyclone MultiChannel combines true independent-channel programming with a single point of control, enabling production teams to manage parallel programming operations without increased complexity. Built on programming technology refined by PEmicro over decades and redesigned for today's automated manufacturing environments, the Cyclone MultiChannel represents a new generation of PEmicro production programming tools. 
New device supports for STMicroelectronics®
With the release of Cyclone software v11.70 and PROG-HL-ARM software v10.00, the following support for STMicroelectronics has been added:
Add Support For GigaDevice GD32F50x
With the release of Cyclone software v11.70 and PROG-HL-ARM software v10.00, PEmicro development and production programmers now support the GigaDevice GD32F50x microcontrollers. The GD32F503 and GD32F505 contain a High Performance Cortex®-M33 with up to 1 MB of flash program memory. GD32F5 series high-performance MCUs offer significantly expanded storage space, excellent processing efficiency, and a wide array of interface options. Compliant with the system-level IEC61508 SIL2 functional safety standard, they provide a comprehensive software and hardware security solution to meet the industrial market's demands for high reliability and security applications.
Configure a Programming Image to Synchronize with PEcloud
In today’s fast-paced manufacturing environments, programming images are evolving to be more than static files that sit on a local PC or server. By generating programming images that are synchronized with the cloud, the user gains many benefits — Remote Visibility into the programming process, Enhanced control, easy distribution, history of program jobs and logged data.
Added Support for Nuvoton M253 devices
With the release of Cyclone software v11.68 and PROG v9.97, PEMicro’s development and production tools now include support for Nuvoton M253 series of devices. The M253 series is based on the Arm Cortex-M23 with up to 128KB of Flash and 16KB or SRAM. Each device's algorithm supports both the APROM and LDROM regions of flash for the respective device's flash memory size. New device support added for the following part numbers: M253LD3AE, M253LD3BE, M253LE3AE, M253LE3BE, M253ZE3AE, M253ZE3BE.
Added Support for Autochips AC7805x Devices
With the release of Cyclone software v11.68 and PROG v9.97, PEMicro’s development and production tools now include support for Autochips AC7805x devices. Each device includes algorithms for both the main flash region and the Control Information 8KB region. New device support added for the following part numbers: AC78056FD, AC78056FE, AC78056HD, AC78056HE, AC78056MD, AC78056ME, AC78058FD, AC78058FE, AC78058HD, AC78058HE, AC78058MD, AC78058ME
Added Support for Nordic Semiconductor nRF54L Devices
With the release of Cyclone software v11.68 and PROG v9.97, PEMicro’s development and production tools now include support for Nordic Semiconductor nRF54L devices. The nRF54L series is the successor to the nRF52 series and offers double the processing power and triple the processing efficiency. The nRF54L is a Cortex-M33 based device that enabled creation of IoT products with reliable wireless communication and processing performance. New device support added for the following part numbers: nRF54L05, nRF54L10, nRF54L15.
Added Support for Additional Nordic nRF91 Devices
With the release of Cyclone software v11.68 and PROG v9.97, PEMicro’s development and production tools now include support for Nordic Semiconductor nRF9151 and nRF9161 devices. The nRF9151/9161 are Cortex-M33 based modules with 1MB of flash and 256MB of RAM and are specifically designed for cellular IoT and DECT NR+ applications. The new algorithms, "Nordic_nRF9151_1MB.arp" and "Nordic_nRF9161_1MB.arp", support the nRF9151 and nRF9161 devices respectively. With this support, the User information configuration registers (UICR) region at 0x00FF8000-0x00FF8FFF is available for reprogramming. To reprogram the UICR region, the EM Erase module command needs to be run first to erase the region. If there are any issues connecting to the target, particularly when it is erased, then the "mass erase upon connection to target" checkbox should be selected. This checkbox can be found in the connection manager of PROGACMP or the Power and Communication settings tab in the Image Creation utility.