Best Rigid Flex PCB
Whether you’re developing a new Printed Circuit Board (PCB) design or replacing an existing one, rigid flex PCBs can help you reduce overall costs of manufacturing and assembly. Rigid flex PCBs combine the stability of rigid boards with the flexibility of a dynamic flex. This type of circuit board is ideal for use in a variety of applications, including wearable electronics, military missile guidance systems, and automotive test equipment.
Rigid flex PCBs connect electrical components using a series of flexible and rigid substrates. The rigid parts carry components and provide structural support, while the flex substrates serve as interconnection paths. This hybrid design allows the circuit board to bend, fold and roll without compromising its function. Rigid flex circuits also enable you to use smaller component sizes, which can help to minimize space and weight issues in your device.
Like rigid PCBs, the base layer of a flex circuit includes conductive tracks and other elements arranged on a non-conductive material. However, unlike traditional rigid boards that use glass as the base layer, flex PCBs have a more flexible base material. The flex material is typically made of FR4 or polyimide, and it allows the Printed Circuit Board to withstand the stress of constant movement. In addition, you can choose to add stiffeners, which are rigid pieces of material, to specific areas of the flex circuit board for additional mechanical stability.
In addition to their flexibility, flex circuits also offer a number of other advantages that can reduce your total cost of ownership. For example, they can eliminate the need for wire harnesses or connectors. This can cut down on production time, labor costs and the amount of waste that is generated during assembly. It can also reduce the overall size of your device, which can reduce shipping and storage expenses.
What Is a Rigid Flex PCB?
The conductive traces on the flex circuits of a rigid flex pcb are typically routed over multiple layers of the substrate, which can improve signal and power transmission and decrease electrical interference. The circuits are also more robust than those on a standard rigid PCB, and they can resist the effects of environmental factors such as humidity and corrosion.
A rigid flex pcb requires specialized fabrication techniques and processes to assemble. This makes it more suitable for high-volume production than low-volume or prototype production. Nonetheless, it’s still possible to use rigid flex technology for low-volume production, but you’ll need to take some extra steps to ensure that the finished product will meet your specifications and performance requirements.
You’ll want to work with a PCB manufacturer that can offer you the tools and resources you need to create your rigid flex pcb design. The right manufacturer will provide you with a platform that integrates both rigid and flex PCB design into a single software package, so you can create a fully integrated prototype or finished product. Altium Designer is a good option for this, as it includes the full suite of PCB design and manufacturing tools you need to get your project off the ground.