When to utilize flex
It’s obtaining faster to fit everything in the box; it’s additionally getting more expensive. One remedy assuring in order to help developers satisfy the dimension restriction directly is rigid flex PCB modern technology, yet a lot of design groups attempt to stay clear of making use of rigid flex PCBs when item expense is a problem. But is it truly as pricey as we believe?
To start with, take into consideration the cost of the traditional rigid-cable-rigid PCB assembly to one based upon rigid flex PCB technology. The former construction works well for short-run styles; nonetheless, it needs adapters on each board as well as the interconect, all of which increase BoM cost. In addition, the rigid-cable-rigid PCB design is prone to ‘chilly joints’, and decreased service life. In contrast, stiff flex circuits get rid of these joints, making them a lot more reliable as well as able to supply overall higher item top quality and longevity. So while rigid flex PCB innovation is definitely not new, different factors to consider currently make it far more feasible– not the least of which is price.
What regarding design time?
While the expense of rigid flex PCB manufacturing, assembly, testing, as well as logistics are crucial consider taking into consideration the viability of rigid flex PCB modern technology for any type of provided project, design as well as development costs could not be neglected. Rigid flex PCB design often needs the mechanical group to assist with the flex portion of the design, and rigid flex PCB combination with the end product. The procedure is extremely time consuming as well as pricey, as well as susceptible to errors.
Making issues worse, PCB design softwares typically disregard the folding and fitting elements of rigid flex design. Rigid flex PCB modern technology design calls for developers to think and operate in 3D. The flex parts can be folded up, twisted as well as rolled to follow the design of the system. However conventional PCB design softwares don’t support 3D board design or the meaning and also simulation of bends as well as folds in the flex section of the design. They do not even sustain the meaning of different layer of rigid flex PCB accumulate in various parts of the design, including the areas consisting of the design’s flex circuits component.
As a result of this, rigid flex PCB developers have been compelled to manually equate both the inflexible and also flex sections of their 3D design right into a flat, 2D depiction appropriate for fabrication. After that they need to by hand document all aspects of the design that are flex, and double check that no elements or vias have been positioned near the transitions in between the design’s inflexible and also flex PCB sections. This procedure is regulated by several added guidelines, a lot of which are, not as well remarkably, not sustained by a lot of PCB design software application.
In general, the extra initiative it has actually required to design stiff flex PCBs as compared to basic inflexible PCBs using conventional PCB design software has actually made them a lot less fee affordable. Fortunately, contemporary design softwares with advanced 3D abilities, and support for the meaning and also simulation of bends and folds in the flex portion of the design, as well as the meaning of various layer stacks in various parts of the design, are now readily available. These tools normally eliminate the have to deal with the flex part of the design with mechanical CAD devices, conserving developers as well as design groups both time and money.