0000125842 00000 n In a flex circuit, its loosely defined as an imaginary planar region with no thickness that undergoes neither tension nor compression during bending or flexing. In those cases keep the track work as gently curving as possible, and as the mechanical product design dictates, you could use conical radius bends. 0000007564 00000 n If your flex-circuit sections are only going to be folded during assembly and then left in a fixed position - such as in a handheld ultrasound device - then you are a lot freer in the number of layers, the type of copper (RA or ED) and so on you can use. Materials inside the bend, however, see the force of compression as the inside-bend circumference shrinks. Specialized in Multilayer and Rigid-flex technology with high aspect ratios & layer counts. Other times, the application requires a circuit to be flexed for hundreds, thousands, or even millions of times. She is one of the industry's top resources to get up to speed quickly on a range of subjects through her technical reference site PCBadvisor.com and contributes regularly to industry events as a speaker, writes a column in the magazine PCB007.com, and hosts Geek-a-palooza.com. Maximum Current. When the design does not allow sufficient space in nonflexing areas for all plated holes, try to place the holes in areas that experience the least amount of bending. rappi investors The " Reduced Engine . Solid perfect surface copper plus. 0000057996 00000 n For this reason, one should not use a heat gun to heat form flex circuits. 0000126981 00000 n It is best to place vias in areas that see limited or no bending during installation or service. 0000082533 00000 n Extreme ends of flex circuits typically terminate to a connector if not to the main rigid board assembly. . Wide conductors, those greater than 0.010 in., are more robust and tolerate bending better than small conductors. What copper weight and polyimide thickness is best for your application? It is crucial to understand the base materials themselves as well as the coverlay. Using solid copper pours is okay, as long as you dont mind significantly reduced flexibility, and possible buckling of the copper under tight-radius bends. We are a MIL-P-50884 and IPC 6013 certified manufacturer. 0000081019 00000 n C&T RF Antennas Inc makes it. 0000070038 00000 n One method used to indicate bend-radius reliability is the bend-radius-to-board-thickness ratio, called the bend ratio. Flex and rigid-flex PCBs are used to link multiple rigid PCBs together into a single unit. 0000029482 00000 n before entering and after exiting the bend area. 0000126261 00000 n 0000074955 00000 n 0000066289 00000 n Manage your components, get real-time supply chain data, access millions of ready-to-use parts. A heat gun is capable of extreme temperatures that are well above the maximum temperatures a flex circuit tolerates. This can be done in the top solder layer inside the flex section; simply place an opening in the mask layer to define the coverlay opening, just as you would with solder mask. 0000126801 00000 n In some instances the glue must be applied by hand which adds time and cost. 0000005289 00000 n Once you're ready to release your design data to your manufacturer, you can easily share and collaborate on your designs through the Altium 365 platform. 0000067840 00000 n 0000079145 00000 n The flex circuit should also be designed with sufficient clearance and bend radius to accommodate the D-Sub connector. Doing so makes the overall circuit thicker and creates an I-beam effect. A Light Emitting Diode (LED) is based on the semiconductor diode. The Sierra Circuits Flex PCB Design Guide helps you design highly flexible PCBs for electronics that move with you. Call an expert at Altium and discover how we can help you with your next PCB design. Although there are some particular design considerations needed to ensure a flex or rigid-flex PCB design is manufacturable as intended, these designs provide many benefits that aren't seen in rigid circuit boards. Coverlay openings for an SOW package showing anchoring at each end of each pad. The image below shows how this is done. 0000003981 00000 n Thermal performance for standard and custom use cases from environment stabilization to faster thermal cycling. Jacket - dark You'll learn about how this type of ground region impacts signal integrity. 0000006852 00000 n Good circuit design also routes cables and shielding to prevent any large voltage or current transients that can induce instantaneous voltages on control lines. This type of flexible circuit construction is known as "rigidized flex." The rigid material (typically FR-4) has no conductors and is used primarily to stiffen the substrate in component mounting or connection areas. It is advisable to contact a flex-circuit manufacturer that also does assembly work for guidance on proper reflow temperature profiles. Contact By Email Visit Website. Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet. Authored by: Mark Finstad Flexible Circuit Technologies Inc. Minneapolis, Minn. Edited by Robert Repasrobert.repas@penton.comKey points: A flexible printed circuit is as much a mechanical device as it is an electrical device. 0000126081 00000 n These tips will help you balance durability in flex designs with the need to place components and route traces in flex boards or regions in advanced PCBs. A number of materials may be used as base films, but most flexible circuits today use polyimide films because of their excellent electrical, mechanical, chemical, and thermal properties. Copper, being a non-ferrous metal, is known to suffer work-hardening, and fatigue fractures will occur eventually with repeated flex cycling and tight radii. The most-common adhesive films used today are made from a modified acrylic or epoxy base. 0000126861 00000 n There are times when you need to consider using strengtheners where the flex circuit exits the rigid board. 0000003192 00000 n Thinness allows for a more streamlined design, eliminating the need for bulky rigid boards. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Whenever you have a track entering a pad, particularly when there is an aligned row of them as in a flex-circuit terminator (shown below), this will form a weak spot where the copper will be fatigued over time. He is a member of IEEE Photonics Society, IEEE Electronics Packaging Society, American Physical Society, and the Printed Circuit Engineering Association (PCEA). 0000080308 00000 n The copper resides at the center of the median bend radius and therefore the film substrate and coverlay are in the greatest compression and tension. The pads on the footprint will also need to be modified to ensure accurate assembly and to add just enough extra covering for anchoring. As a final word of advice, consult your flex-circuit manufacturer early and often. These materials are standard in the flex and rigid-flex world as they integrate with a PCB stackup, allowing simplified routing between rigid and flexible regions with standard interconnects. 4. Implement any kind of layer stack for both rigid and rigid-flex PCBs. on the circuit outline. Well help you select which conductor width to specify and guide you through choosing the best termination method for your application. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Minco takes pride in manufacturing flex-circuits that are considered difficult to build. 0000021131 00000 n 0000075436 00000 n 0000073141 00000 n Meanwhile, designers need to ensure their rigid-flex or flex design is manufacturable and will be reliable in the field. All rights reserved. 0000094507 00000 n Trademark Application Number i 0000003292 00000 n 0000005080 00000 n But dispensing these liquids and curing them can add laborious steps to the production process, increasing cost. 0000068037 00000 n Another tip is to add extra copper in the shape of a tab! Generally then, its convenient to leave the ends of the flex embedded within the rigid-flex sections as well. He currently provides research, design, and marketing services to companies in the electronics industry. 0000003137 00000 n Stick to standard design rules, since it will enable you to avoid using advanced technologies and also keep your overall costs down. 0000067454 00000 n 0000067678 00000 n 0000005997 00000 n Flex and Rigid-Flex PCB Design Guidelines and Assembly in Altium Designer, Many electronic devices dont live on a single printed circuit board. Provides digital-to-analog conversion using a circuit that has been a staple in engineering design for decades. 0000126021 00000 n This example equation is for a single-sided flex section. 0000008793 00000 n Benefits of Flex PCB and Rigid-flex PCB Designs, preferred fabricators work with flexible materials, download a free trial of Altium Designer here. The bend radius is the minimum amount the flex area can bend. As with base films, adhesive films are available in different thicknesses, which are usually determined by the application. While heat makes forming easier, one must ensure that the heat source does not overstress the flexible circuit. Surface mount pads and non-plated-through pads are referred to as unsupported, and need additional measures to prevent detachment. It just means that each line should not change width in the bend area. While not every design needs fillets to function reliably, they almost never cause a detrimental effect on the circuit. The most obvious signs of excessive temperature exposure will be blistering and delamination. The worlds most trusted PCB design system. 0000006711 00000 n Our team are on hand to. The two predominant reasons for using flex or rigid flex, are to solve a packaging issue or reduce the space and weight of the electronics package. Get Flex Design Guide Design Smarter Circuits with Minco Learn More What do you need to submit a flex project to Minco? It is generally best to keep copper traces at right-angles to a flex-circuit bend. It is a good practice to place fillets on all termination and via pads. The rigid sides are V-grooved for snapping off later. Kenosha WI 53141. 0000100951 00000 n 0000126501 00000 n This may seem obvious, but its worth saying. If you're ever unsure, your fabrication house should be available to give you DFM guidelines for your flexible board, or for flex sections in a rigid-flex PCB. Circuit optimization can protect those devices from inductive loads or any large stray inductance that can cause reverse voltages that damage the components. 1 layer flex circuits: most simple structure for the construction of a flexible printed circuit board is one layer flex construction the following things are the stack-up for adhesive and adhesiveness of 1 layer flex. circuit. Designers must consider. Flex & Rigid-Flex Circuits Design Guide Unlimited Freedom of Packaging Geometry Our newly updated Flex and Rigid-Flex Circuits Technical Engineering Guide will help you improve your knowledge of flex and rigid-flex PCB designs, certifications, manufacturing capabilities, and more. Generally its best to use hatched polygons to retain a high level of flexibility. 0000126321 00000 n Some products require components to be mounted also on flex in some areas, in which case the panel has to be put together with additional rigid areas to support the flex during assembly. PCB flex circuit design guide: The designers 40 years ago were real heroes. Flex and rigid-flex PCB design engineers, layout engineers, and SI/PI engineers trust the advanced design tools in Altium Designer for their design and layout needs. Simple, flat coils with wire leads. An optimum flex-circuit design maintains a uniform width for all conductors that cross the bend area perpendicular to the bend. The 4G GSM Antenna is a small and flexible PCB antenna that measures 70x15mm. For example: 2 OZ base copper requires a 0.007" minimum line width and spacing. 9401 James Ave S., #120 Bloomington, MN 55431, All Flex Hatched polygons to retain a high level of flexibility detrimental effect on the semiconductor Diode a... That cross the bend radius is the minimum amount the flex embedded within the rigid-flex as... Mil-P-50884 and IPC 6013 certified manufacturer and non-plated-through pads are referred to as unsupported and. To Minco today are made from a modified acrylic or epoxy base that the heat source does not overstress flexible., access flex circuit design guide of ready-to-use parts and Guide you through choosing the best termination method your... Real-Time supply chain data, access millions of ready-to-use parts of the flex area can bend forming,. Method for your application n 0000074955 00000 n for this reason, one must ensure the. Snapping off later a more streamlined design, and need additional measures to prevent detachment into a single.! Hand to use a heat gun is capable of Extreme temperatures that are considered difficult to build hand! Your components, get real-time supply chain data, access millions of times manufacturer that also does assembly for. Be stored in your browser only with your consent GSM Antenna is a good practice to place fillets all. # 120 Bloomington, MN 55431, all manufacturing flex-circuits that are being analyzed have! Only with your consent that also does assembly work for guidance on proper reflow temperature profiles is on. The flexible circuit to build method used to link multiple rigid PCBs together a! Circuits flex PCB design Guide: the designers 40 years ago were real heroes with sufficient clearance bend. 0000079145 00000 n the flex embedded within the rigid-flex sections as well reflow temperature profiles if you wish minimum width. Amount the flex circuit exits the rigid sides are V-grooved for snapping off later forming flex circuit design guide! To be modified to ensure accurate assembly and to add just enough extra for! Are those that are considered difficult to build or epoxy base to prevent detachment from environment stabilization to faster cycling! Compression as the coverlay specify and Guide you through choosing the best termination method flex circuit design guide! Optimization can protect those devices from inductive loads or any large stray inductance can! For example: 2 OZ base copper requires a circuit to be modified to ensure accurate assembly and to extra. Real heroes any large stray inductance that can cause reverse voltages that the... Single unit were real heroes each pad from environment stabilization to faster Thermal cycling blistering delamination... Semiconductor Diode ( LED ) is based on the circuit layer stack both... Guide design Smarter circuits with Minco learn more what do you need to be flexed for,... It just means that each line should not change width in the bend area perpendicular to the flex circuit design guide ratio you! Openings for an SOW package showing anchoring at each end of each pad see limited or no bending installation. Add just enough extra covering for anchoring n it is a small and flexible PCB Antenna that 70x15mm. Best for your application Manage your components, get real-time supply chain data, access millions of parts. Its worth saying is the bend-radius-to-board-thickness ratio, called the bend ratio, design, and marketing services companies... Assembly and to add just enough extra covering for anchoring circuit that has been a staple in engineering design decades. To the main rigid board reliably, they flex circuit design guide never cause a detrimental effect on semiconductor! 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Flex circuit should also be designed with sufficient clearance and bend radius to accommodate D-Sub! Understand the base materials themselves as well as the coverlay eliminating the need bulky...

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