Rigid-Flex PCB

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Rigid-Flex PCB

Rigid-Flex PCB
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Rigid - Flex PCB (also known as rigid - flex circuit or rigid - flex circuit board) combines the features of a rigid circuit board and a flexible circuit board. It is selectively interconnected using an epoxy pre - preg bonding film and electrically connected via plated through holes (PTH) and vias, closely resembling a multi - layer flex circuit.


Areas that demand extra support are designed as rigid, while corners and regions requiring additional space and flexibility are crafted as flexible. This design enables it to leverage the advantages of both rigid boards, such as rigidity and flatness, and flexible circuits, like flexibility and bendability. Rigid - flex circuits offer higher component density and more effective quality control.


Typically, the rigid parts made from FR4 PCB can range from one to multiple layers. In most cases, the outer layers of the FR4 PCB also have one to multiple layers. The crucial element is the flexible circuit that links the rigid PCBs, which can be either single - layer or multi - layer. Currently, we are capable of manufacturing rigid - flex circuits with over 50 layers.


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Rigid-flex PCB

Here are stacks up of normal 6L rigid-flex circuits (2L FR4 PCB +2L FPC +2L PCB) and you can see, normally the inner layers are flexible circuits which are easier to be made and have lower price.
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Rigid flex circuits have been used in the military and aerospace industries for more than 20 years. In most rigid-flex circuit boards, the circuitry consists of multiple flexible circuit inner layers. However, a multilayer rigid-flex circuit incorporates a flexible circuit layer externally, internally or both as needed to accomplish the design. We can also manufacture rigid-flex circuit with outer layers to be flexible circuits.

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Contact us for  more stacks up of rigid-flex circuit boards . 

Rigid-flex PCB is different from a multi-layer flex circuit. with stiffeners by having conductors on the rigid layers. Plated through holes (PTH) extend through both rigid and flexible layers, so that DIP components can be soldered on the circuit more firmly, and it has more flatness and stability.

Vantage of Rigid-Flex PCB

  • High Density Applications: The rigid area of a rigid flex circuit is utilized for high density device population. In addition, finer line width & space is allowed in flexible circuits, so more density can be used. Denser device populations and lighter conductors can be designed into a product, freeing space for additional product features.
  • More application: Advances in rigid circuit board technology has broadened the applications on electronic products from communication, computer, and consumer electronics, to medical, automotive, and military electronics.
  • Increasing demand for more powerful and smaller products drives the need for multiple layers to accommodate denser, finer line width and spacing and smaller hole sizes.
  • Highly complex configurations
  • Less electronics components need
  • Reduced interconnections
  • Package Size and Weight Reduction
  • Additionally, air gap which widely used in a multi-layer flex circuit can be also used, and other feature such as controlled impedance, EMI shielding, panelization, stiffeners , PSA, Circuit Assembly (SMT) are also available.

 

Rigid-Flex PCB Capability

 

As a professional manufacturer of rigid flexible circuit board in China, We always try to improve our capability to produce more rigid-flex circuit board to our customers. Here is major capability: 
  • 1-10 flexible layers; multiple flex layers in either bonded or air gap configuration
  • 1-40 rigid layers
  • 2-50 layer rigid flexible circuits
  • Flex Core Materials: Polyimide (PI): 1/2 mil to 4 mils in either adhesive or adhesives constructions
  • Copper thickness: 1/3 OZ – 2 OZ RA or ED type (insert material/copper-foil.htm) in flexible circuit; 1/2OZ to 10 OZ in rigid circuits;
  • Coverlays: 1/2 mil to 2 mils polyimide
  • Stiffeners material: polyimide, FR4, stainless steel, aluminum
  • Rigid Materials: 130, 170, 180 TG FR4, low flow prepreg
  • EMI/RF shielding films
  • Blind and buried vias available
  • Any layer available 
  • Controlled impedance: 50 ohm, 90 Ohm, 100 Ohm, 110 Ohm and other value
  • Surface finishing: ENIG, ENEPIG, gold plating, gold fingers (3-30u” Au), Immersion silver
  • IPC 6013 – Class II & Class III available

 

Rigid-Flex PCB Manufacturing Process:

Manufacturing of rigid-flex PCB is much more complicated than other types of flexible circuit, here are simple manufacturing steps for your reference:

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I-Tech provides various sizes of rigid flexible Circuit boards of different layers. All Rigid-Flex Circuits are tested with electronic testing reflecting all Gerber data to ensure continuity and other data requirements. 
We can provide fast prototypes within 3-7 days, on-time delivery, great quality for you. Please contact us today for more information about rigid flexible circuits.

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