This is a technology that allows the manufacturer to assemble electronic components onto a flexible PCB substrate rather then the generic rigid PCB. Flexible circuits are used where spacial constrainted limit the use of rigid circuit boards or designs require movable parts.
A flexible PCB is not only a luxury, but a necessity in many applications. Industries such as aerospace and medicine, take advantage of flexible and rigid flex PCBs to meet form factors that are tightly spaced or elaborately shaped. Our flexible PCBs are very light weight and can be made extremely thin – down to 5 mil cores! Develop flexible boards up to 6 layers without the need of stiffener.
Designing boards with flexible material often rids the need for extra connectors, wires, or other PBCs. This often reduces the complexity of assembly processes, and not to mention component quantity and cost.
Some designs require a rigid-flex printed circuit board (PCB) while others need a flexible PCB. If a manufacturer is assembling electronics that leave a minimal amount of space for the circuit board, the more flexibility they have, the better. A flexible circuit board will allow the manufacturer to maneuver the PCB into the correct position to ensure the best fit. A flexible PCP isn’t a luxury. For some, it is a requirement.
That is why Candor offers both flexible and rigid-flex printed circuit boards. If you are in need of moveable parts or of unique constraints with the products you are working with, then our flex printed circuit boards will be suitable for your needs.
By going with a Candor flexible PCB, you are getting more than just the flexibility benefit. We can add up to eight layers onto our flex-rigid boards. Not only that, those eight layers do not need a stiffener. Typically you will find a stiffener in a flex board to provide mechanical support to the function, even though it is not a part of the design of the electrical schematics. On top of that, we can keep our flexible PCBs very lightweight and thin with a .5 mil core.
When you make a board out of more flexible materials, it rids the need for extra wires and connectors. You now have a less complicated board that reduces the cost and amount of components needed to assemble. So you will be able to build your board quicker while keeping money in your pocket.
Up to 10 layers with and without stiffener.
Candor can make flex-regid printed circuit boards up to 10 layers
We can provide squenntional blind and burried vias depending on customer needs.
Candor can manufacture flexible boards with .5 mil cores!
Flexible printed circuit boards have many innate advantages—namely they can be bent and flexed to allow for greater freedom of design and operation. This enables applications that can adapt to small, irregularly shaped spaces, featuring designs that cannot be supported by standard, rigid circuits.
Flexible circuits take up less space, reduce the weight of the application’s motherboard, and allow for superior thermal management. This creates more durability, and compared to rigid PCBs these flexible boards are longer-lasting in unique environments. Applications that are subject to continuous vibrations and mechanical stress can benefit from flexible PCBs, and standard interconnection techniques can be replaced with those of flexible printed circuits.
Benefits of Flexible PCBs include:
For example, the automotive sector demands devices of specific shapes, such as dashboards and other interfaces. These devices require reliable conditions under unique operating conditions and are subjected to continuous vibrations and mechanical stress. Flexible PCBs guarantee reliability and durability with a lower threshold of required maintenance.
Rigid-flex PCBs, similar to Flexible PCBs, are categorized by their specific applications. Rigid-flex PCBs integrate aspects of rigid and flexible circuit boards, making different regions available on a single board. Traditional PCBs consist of only rigid materials not designed to bend or flex, whereas Rigid-flex boards can accommodate bending or flexing in specific areas.
Benefits of Rigid-flex PCBs include:
The design of Rigid-flex PCBs allows manufacturers to meet the mounting challenges in electrical and mechanical engineering. Innovation is driving the demand for more versatile devices, and Rigid-flex PCBs combine the stability of rigid boards with the flexibility of flexible circuits, offering a compelling array of advantages.
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Flexible and rigid-flex PCBs serve similar purposes, as both connect electronic components in various devices. Where a traditional rigid circuit board is built upon an unbendable base layer, flexible and rigid-flex PCBs, called flex circuits, are built on a flexible base that can bend, twist, and fold.
Flexible circuits are more than PCBs that can bend, and rigid-flex PCBs are manufactured differently to offer various performance benefits, such as remaining rigid in some areas and staying flexible in others.
Several differences might make an engineer choose between a flexible or rigid-flex PCB, including conductive material, manufacturing process, and total cost. Because flexible circuits have to bend, different types of flexible rolled annealed copper must be used instead of traditional electro-deposited copper. Flexible PCBs also have to utilize a coverlay to protect a flexible PCB’s exposed circuitry, which can make different models of flexible PCBs more expensive. Because flex circuits cost more than rigid ones, rigid-flex circuit boards bridge the cost gap between flexible and traditional PCBs. However, flex circuits also allow engineers to shrink the overall size of their products, which can lead to more indirect savings and reduce the total resource usage.
Consider your application’s demands when choosing between flexible and rigid-flex PCBs. Your industry’s preferred circuit board type and the overall effect of using a particular type of board can majorly impact cost and profits.
Several different industries commonly use flexible and rigid-flex PCBs, including:
Consumer Appliances – Electric irons, UV water purifiers, lighting systems, solar power systems, remote controls, washing machines, mobile phones, Microwave ovens, wearable electronics, portable music devices
Industrial and Manufacturing – Control panels, industrial air conditioners, automation, test equipment, electrical systems
Telecommunication – CCTV surveillance systems, transmission media, signal processing systems, wireless media, communication satellites, handheld units, routers and servers
Aerospace – Environmental test chambers, motion sensors, noise and vibration testing systems, control tower systems, radar equipment, avionics systems, radio communication systems, global positioning systems
Automotive Industries – Navigation, music systems, traction control systems, entertainment devices, displays, comfort control systems, electronic control modules
Military – Tracking and surveillance systems, aircraft missile launch systems, GPS, weapon guidance systems, communication systems
Medical – Wireless systems, imaging equipment, drug delivery systems, cochlear implants, patient monitoring systems, pacemakers
The PCB industry is currently experiencing an explosion of emerging trends and technologies. As the latest technological advancements change and grow, PCBs and their variants have become more commonplace. From flexible PCBs to rigid-flex PCBs to HDIs, the transformative potential of these technologies continues to enrich our lives.
There are a few groundbreaking advancements that have revolutionized PCB design. Flexible PCBs are a remarkable achievement that offers enhanced durability and flexibility, making them superior to traditional rigid PCBs in many instances. Both flexible and rigid-flex PCBs are particularly useful in applications where dynamic movement or space constraints present a challenge, and have created new leaps in automotive electronics, medical devices, consumer electronics, and more.
High-density interconnects, or HDIs, allow for increased functionality in smaller form factors, by employing micro vias, blind vias, and buried vias alongside advanced manufacturing techniques. HDIs achieve higher circuit densities, reduce signal propagation delays, enable PCBs with multiple layers and finer trace widths, and improve overall miniaturization and performance. This technology has allowed for incredible advancement in tablets, smartphones, computers, video game consoles, and other high-performance electronic devices.
Internet of Things (IoT) devices have significantly influenced PCB design, and led to an exponential increase in connected devices. Demands for seamless data communication and energy efficiency have led to PCB growth, where new circuit boards are capable of handling wireless connectivity, low-power components, sensor integration, and compact design. This has enabled new leaps in wearable devices such as smartwatches, fitness trackers, and medical wearables.
These innovations in miniature and wearable devices have only been possible because of PCBs that can meet unique requirements and demands. As emerging trends grow and change, Candor is at the forefront with superior, high-quality PCB designs.
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Candor’s technology is modern and innovative, our competitors are 10 years behind us! This benefits our customers because we can produce what our customers can dream. We provide essential innovative solutions in Printed Circuit Boards that allow product innovations in ways that were never possible before.
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