What Industries Commonly Use Flex PCBs?
Industries Commonly Use Flex PCBs
Flexible printed circuit boards, or flex PCBs as they are commonly known, are one of the most versatile electronic components for interconnecting a number of different components. This type of PCB is typically composed of a layer of metallic traces (typically copper) attached to a dielectric layer, usually made from polyimide. Often, adhesives are used between the layers of the flex PCB to secure the copper in place but recently, adhesive-less laminates have become popular because they are more eco-friendly and provide greater thermal performance.
The thickness of the flex pcbs can vary depending on its application and design but is generally quite thin. Often the flex PCB will require stiffeners which are rigid materials (such as FR4) added to specified areas of the board to provide additional mechanical stability, particularly where components like edge connectors are located. These are added in order to ensure the flex PCB can function under harsh conditions such as exposure to heat, chemicals and shock and vibration.
Using a flex PCB will typically save space within the product as well as reduce its overall weight. This is because the flex circuit can be shaped to fit into tight spaces that cannot be easily reached or accessed by traditional rigid circuit boards. This is especially important when designing portable electronics such as smart phones and tablet computers.
What Industries Commonly Use Flex PCBs?
Some of the largest industries that use flex PCBs are computer technology and automotive electronics. As the technology within these devices continues to evolve and shrink, flex PCBs are increasingly necessary for providing high-performance functionality in compact, handheld forms. In addition, flex PCBs are frequently utilized in cars to support various electronics such as backup cameras and GPS software.
Rigid-flex circuits, which are a hybrid of the rigid and flex PCB types, are also becoming commonplace in the aerospace industry as well as in commercial products such as laptop computers. This type of PCB is typically designed to meet the rigorous requirements set forth by military or other industrial customers that demand high levels of reliability and durability for their equipment.
The primary advantage of rigid-flex over other PCBs is that it provides the best of both worlds: the high-reliability of a rigid PCB with the ability to bend and flex. This is ideal for applications where a small size and the need to avoid electrical interference are critical.
In addition, rigid-flex PCBs are designed to be more durable than other types of PCBs and can withstand tens of thousands of cycles of bending and folding without damage. This makes them an excellent choice for applications that need to be able to withstand significant amounts of movement or abrasions.
A flex circuit board can be either single or double-sided. Single-sided flex PCBs have metal layers on both sides of the single dielectric layer while multi-layer flex circuits have copper layers on only one side of the dielectric. Single-sided flex circuits are cheaper and simpler to manufacture than multi-layer flex circuits, making them a great option for simple designs.