What is Rigid-Flex PCB?
As it is clear from its name that Flex-Rigid PCB are boards using a combination of flexible and rigid board technologies in an electronic application. Most rigid flex boards consist of multiple layers of flexible circuit substrates attached to one or more rigid boards externally and internally that depends upon the design of their application. The flexible substrates are designed to be in a constant state of flex and are usually formed into the flexed curve during the manufacturing or installation of circuit boards. Rigid-Flex designs are more challenging than the design of a typical rigid board environment, as these boards are designed in a 3D space, which also offers greater spatial efficiency. By being able to design in three dimensions rigid flex designers can twist, fold and roll the flexible board substrates to achieve their desired shape for the final package of the application.
Flex Rigid PCB vs. A Flexible Circuit
A Flex-Rigid PCB is a thing that the vast majority consider when they visualize a circuit board. These sheets interface electrical parts utilizing conductive tracks and different components, which are placed on a non-conductive substrate. For flexible rigid PCB, most of the non-conductive substrate contains glass, thus enhancing the hardness and strength of the circuit board. A rigid circuit board gives incredible support to the components, just as fair thermal resistance. Conductive tracks of flexible PCB are included on a non-conductive substrate, such boards use a flexible substrate, such as polyimide. The flexible base enables flexible circuits to dissipate heat, withstand vibration, and overlay up into different shapes. Due to their basic give, flex circuits are progressively utilized in innovative and compact hardware.
Reasons and Advantages of Choosing Flex-Rigid PCB:
While this sort of flexible circuit might be progressively costly to structure and deliver, it offers various significant benefits to know about them just scroll down:
- The use of 3D May limit space necessities
- Reduced plate size and overall frame weight by eliminating the requirement for connectors and links between individual rigid components.
- By boosting space, there is frequently a lower count in the parts.
- Fewer bind joints guarantee higher association dependability.
- Handling during the gathering is simpler in correlation with the flexible sheets.
- PCB assembly processes can be simplified with flex-rigid PCB.
- Integrated ZIF contacts give basic secluded interfaces to the framework condition.
- Test conditions are streamlined. A total test before establishment gets possible.
- Logistical and get-together expenses are altogether decreased with flex-rigid it is possible to build the versatility of the mechanical design, which further increases the freedom of accommodation arrangements.
Rigid-Flex PCBs Fabrication Applications:
Also, Flex-Rigid PCB can perform well even in the worst conditions, especially those that are particularly warm. For example, the flex-rigid PCB can do well even in the harshest situations, particularly those highlighting extraordinary warmth. A flex-rigid board is additionally simple to test, making it appropriate for prototyping
Rigid-Flex PCBs offer a wide array of applications, ranging from smart devices to cell phones and digital cameras. Increasingly, rigid-flex board fabrication has been used in medical devices such as pacemakers for their space and weight reduction capabilities. The same advantages for rigid-flex PCB usage can be applied to smart control systems. In consumer products, rigid-flex doesn't just maximize space and weight but greatly improves reliability, eliminating many needs for solder joints and delicate, fragile wiring that are prone to connection issues. These are just some examples, but Rigid-Flex PCBs can be used to benefit nearly all advanced electrical applications including testing equipment, tools, and automobiles.
Technology and Production Process:
Whether producing a rigid flex prototype or production quantities requiring large-scale Rigid-Flex PCBs fabrication and PCB assembly, the technology is well proven and reliable. The flex PCB portion is particularly good in overcoming space and weight issues with spatial degrees of freedom.
Careful consideration of Rigid-Flex solutions and a proper assessment of the available options at the early stages in the rigid-flex PCB design phase will return significant benefits. The Rigid-Flex PCBs fabricator must be involved early in the design process to ensure the design and fab portions are both in coordination and to account for final product variations. The Rigid-Flex manufacturing phase is also more complex and time-consuming than rigid board fabrication. All the flexible components of the Rigid-Flex assembly have completely different handling, etching, and soldering processes than rigid FR4 boards.
Applications for Flex and Rigid-Flex Circuits
- Medical devices: CAT imaging systems, ultrasonic scanners, blood glucose monitors, blood pressure monitors, pacemakers, and more
- Industrial machinery: Manufacturing equipment, which includes automation and processing equipment
- Lighting: Light-emitting diodes (LEDs), which are used in every from residential homes to stores, computer displays, and hospitals
- Automotive: LiDAR (Light Detecting and ranging), navigation and entertainment systems, control systems, and sensors
- Military aerospace: Monitoring and communication equipment, power supplies, flight systems, and hardware.
Defense: Communications equipment, radar, control systems, computers, vehicles, firearms, and warfighter equipment
Consumer products: PCBs are found in most everyday items around your home or office: cell phones, tablets, dishwashers, computers, radios, home appliances, earbuds, and many more
Oil industry: Monitoring and downhole sensors
Designing And Selection of Rigid-Flex PCBs material:
During the Rigid-Flex PCBs configuration process, certain considerations must be considered for final item size varieties. In the assembling of Rigid-Flex sheets, the flexible polyimide center will recoil once the fortified copper foil is scratched away. This variety must be represented in the design procedure. Bending portion to be bent and the emphasis on the bending coverage may lead to the stress fracture is required.
Flex-rigid PCB Materials
- Substrates
1. Polyimide
2. Polyester (PET)
- Conductor Material
- Adhesives
1. Polyimide Adhesives
2. Polyester Adhesives
3. Acrylic Adhesives
4. Epoxies
- Protective Coatings
1. Cover Lays
2. Cover-Coats
Other than these materials, there are a few other optional materials utilized in the manufacturing of flex-rigid PCB to expand their operational reliability and excellence. These incorporate anti-tarnishing coatings, and support substrates. PCB producers pick these materials according to the client's requirements, and precise application prerequisites.nThe material utilized for flex-rigid PCB extraordinarily decides the quality and the overall working of the rigid-flex sheets. As referenced before, board materials must be carefully picked after investigating a few criteria including shelf life, cost, and electrical prerequisites of the circuit, among others. This helps produce rigid-flex circuit sheets that give years of trouble-free and reliable assistance.
Similarities and Differences Between Flex and Rigid-Flex PCBs
A flexible PCB is a printed circuit board that can be shaped and designed to fit into a specific product or system. A flex, or flexible, the circuit is made of thin, flexible material. Applications for flex circuits can be as simple as a one-layer circuit. A multilayer printed wiring circuit board contains three or more copper conductive layers, usually plated through holes. If the multilayer circuit board is constructed of both flexible and rigid materials, it is referred to as a rigid-flex circuit board.
A rigid-flex circuit board is a 3D interconnect that can be bent and folded into almost any shape. Rigid-flex technology allows designers to replace multiple PCBs with interconnecting wires and/or cables into one single unit, offering improved performance and increased reliability. Rigid-flex circuits can have up to 50 layers, replacing bulky wire harnesses with a compact but robust design. Rigid-flex circuit board technology reduces the need for bulky, heavy wire harness cables within an electronic system. It also saves installation time and part costs and results in a cleaner and typically more compact top-level assembly.
EuropePCB Tolerances & Capabilities:
We differentiate ourselves by being able to take on all complex jobs —from layout through assembly — and we do this under one roof in our state-of-the-art facility located in Silicon Valley. We are a leader in procuring the newest and latest technology and equipment, which gives us the capability to produce PCBs with tight tolerances. At EuropePCB, we pride ourselves on delivering some of the best rigid-flexible printed circuit boards on the market. We want to show you exactly what we can do for your PCBs from development to engineering and prototyping to large-volume orders.
EuropePCB Offers You the Best Service:
If you’re looking for a high-quality flex or rigid-flex circuit, look no further than EuropePCB. Our expert capabilities come from more than 30 years of building flex and rigid-flex circuits for a wide variety of applications and industries. Our highly skilled engineers work with clients from the beginning of every project to address any challenges and provide valuable recommendations on the type of PCB needed, materials, and how to design for manufacturability.
In case you are searching for a durable and reliable flex-rigid PCB, then you have landed in the right place. MOKO Technology is a famous name in the PCB business and we have years of experience in assembling flex-rigid PCBs. Our items are of premium quality and services are of a high standard. We have a huge arrangement with a large-scale manufacturing capacity. In this way, we can offer customized items according to your needs. Don’t hesitate to get in touch with us for an estimate or any further questions.
