Why Does Not Every Application Use Rigid Flex Technology?

Great Concern! Rigid-flex innovation is a hybrid between inflexible boards and also adaptable circuits, m one of the most favorable elements of both. The adaptable section helps address space, weight, and packaging problems due to the fact that it can bend, fold, and flex in either installation (flex to mount) or end use (vibrant flex). The rigid part supports dense element locations, allowing greater layer matters, complicated directing, surface area placing on both sides of the board. Using this building for all applications makes good sense to me!

Much more reasonably, price is almost always a factor when selecting the innovation to make use of for a certain design. Rigid-flex, with all its advantages, may not constantly be the very best overall price solution. In a future blog site, we will review the relevance of comparing complete layout price as opposed to simply the cost of a stiff or adaptable circuit to a rigid-flex design. For now, let’s look at why flex and rigid-flex are more costly to produce than a basic rigid board.

First, the raw products are just a lot more costly than basic FR4 laminates. The PCB market eats less flexible products than their inflexible equivalents, driving a rather significant delta in the cost of basic materials.

Secondly, handling adaptable materials can be tough. Developers choose adaptable materials due to the fact that they are slim, lightweight, and also can bend as well as fold, however these things call for special attention throughout fabrication. Image a 18″ x 24″ or perhaps a 12″ x 18″ item of laminate, only 2 or three mils thick. It is like attempting to hold a piece of paper. Any kind of little flutter can possibly develop a ding or crease in the copper, transforming it to as the wiring is created.

Producers of flex products require unique dealing with procedures. For instance, you can just pick the product up by opposing corners to maintain the laminate level. Delivering materials via the center generally calls for unique trays or racked carts. Due to the fact that the majority of PCB manufacture wet-process equipment is roller based, flexible products typically require leader boards taped as well as untaped throughout the procedure to make certain the panels do not get captured in the rollers.

Comparing the expense and also handling needs of rigid and flexible circuit products describes why adaptable is extra expensive. Relocating to an extra complicated rigid building furthers the gap with the special processing needed to laminate and fabricate dissimilar products. I assume it is also important to recognize exactly how various inflexible flex constructions effect price.

The easiest as well as least pricey choice normally is rigid flex with inflexible outer layers as well as flex interconnecting layers with all rigid layers having the exact same thickness. This is one of the most usual inflexible flex building, but both flex and rigid-flex allow a great deal of innovative designs., as discussed in previous blogs. As an example, certain design options require plated via holes in the flex regions. While definitely possible, it adds additional cost because of added handling at the fabricator. In most basic terms, the flex layers need “wet-process” processing to develop the via holes prior to they obtain integrated into the rest of the stack up.

One more creative method to fix packaging issues is to have certain flex layers, or tails, break short into different sections. For example, flex layers 1 as well as 2 go in one direction, flex layers 3 and also 4 go off in an additional instructions, and also flex layers 5 and 6 go in yet one more instructions. This is an outstanding use of rigid-flex innovation! Nevertheless, this building calls for significantly even more processing throughout manufacture than the easy variation defined earlier. There are several different methods to approach this complicated style, and it is very suggested to collaborate with your producer early in the style procedure to guarantee you are not including unnecessary expenses.