Table of Contents
What is flexible and rigid flex PCB?
As the names suggest, a rigid PCB is a circuit board built on a rigid base layer that cannot bend, while a flexible PCB, also called a flex circuit, is built on a flexible base capable of bending, twisting and folding.
What is flexible PCB used for?
Flexible PCB, also known as flex prints or flex circuits, is a special type of circuit board that you can bend into the desired shape. They are widely used for high-density and high-temperature applications.
How do you make a rigid flex PCB?
When you begin to design your rigid flex PCB, there are a few rules you want to adhere to as best as possible:
- Try not to bend at the corners.
- Gradually change the width of the traces.
- Try to keep the flex layers to a minimum of two for increased mechanical flexibility and reduced costs.
Which material is used in flexible PCB?
Leading conducting material of flexible PCB is copper or copper foil and sometimes alloy is also used including aluminum, nickel, gold and silver etc. Apart from conduction, conductor layer should be flexibility resistant.
How are flex circuits made?
A flexible printed circuit consists of a metallic layer of traces, usually copper, bonded to a dielectric layer, usually polyimide. Often an adhesive is used to bond the metal to the substrate, but other types of bonding such as vapor deposition can be used to attach the metal.
What is a rigid PCBs?
Rigid PCB is Solid, inflexible Printed Circuit Board. PCB can be Single or Double Sided PCB or Multilayer PCB. A Rigid PWB can be Single Sided, Double Sided or Multilayer. Once a Rigid Circuit Board is manufactured they cannot be modified or folded into any other shape.
How are rigid flex PCBs made?
As early as 1970s, flex-rigid PCBs were manufactured by stacking up rigid board onto flexible board. When it comes to flexible substrate material, polyimide (PI) double-layer board covered with copper is applied as a flexible core and polyimide/acrylic film is used to protect flexible circuit pattern.