Rigid Flex Circuits for High-Density
Rigid flex circuits provide the reliability and structural integrity of rigid boards with the flexibility of a flexible PCB. They can withstand a wide range of harsh conditions and work in a variety of industries, including aerospace and defense, medical, automotive and many technological applications like wearables and consumer electronics. However, it’s important to consider your application’s needs before choosing a rigid flex circuit type. The wrong rigid flex PCB may not perform well long-term and result in unplanned costs, manufacturing delays or failures. The good news is, there are high-quality rigid flex PCBs available for every requirement that can save you time, money and frustration in the long run.
In high-density applications, manufacturers are often under pressure to include more and higher-end technology into smaller devices and package sizes. This is where rigid flex circuits can add significant value for your product. Their “controlled impedance” designs support denser device populations and lighter conductors, allowing you to economize space for more product features. Plus, rigid-flex circuits eliminate the need for connectors to reduce board size, and they can improve signal impedance and polarity across connections.
The rigid sections of a rigid-flex circuit board are constructed from materials like FR-4, polyimide and specialized Rogers or Teflon laminates. The flex section of the board consists of flexible substrates such as Kapton or polyester (PET). Conductive traces are printed on both sides using a layer stack that includes a base material, coverlay materials and stiffeners. The rigid and flexible portions of the board are joined with plated through holes (PTH) and mounting components, resulting in a single, durable circuit board that can withstand a wide range of environments.
Rigid Flex Circuits for High-Density Applications
A rigid-flex PCB can be made with either single or double-sided traces, and a wide variety of shields are available to protect the circuitry against electromagnetic interference (EMI), electrostatic discharge (ESD) and transient voltages. The conductive layers in a rigid-flex PCB can also be printed with any color, thickness and pattern to meet your specific application requirements.
When designing a rigid-flex PCB, you can take advantage of advanced features in integrated MCAD/ECAD rigid-flex design tools to help streamline your board design process. These tools allow you to define a 3D view of the bending region of your rigid-flex PCB and reduce manual routing. The ability to model the board’s mechanical behavior in this way will ensure that your flex circuit can withstand any bending or twisting it may encounter in use, preventing copper fracture and other issues that could impact performance.
To learn more about the benefits of rigid-flex circuits for your next project, contact us at All Flex Solutions today to connect with a knowledgeable member of our team. We can answer any questions you have and help you choose the right PCB type for your application needs. We can even create a rigid-flex prototype to test your ideas before you commit to the full production run.
