Flexible PCB is a kind of high reliability, which is made of polyimide or polyester film as base material, excellent flexible printed circuit board, with high density, light weight, thin thickness characteristics, mainly used in mobile phones, laptops, PDAs, digital cameras, LCM and many other products. Flexible circuits are usually the only solution for miniaturization and mobility requirements on the current connector (cutting-edge) electronic device assembly board. The total weight and volume of flexible assembly is 70% less than that of traditional round wire wiring harness.
Flexible circuit boards can be moved, bent, and twisted without damaging the wires and may conform to different shapes and special package sizes. Because it can withstand millions of times of dynamic bending, Flex PCB the flexible circuit can be well suited for continuous motion or regular movement of the internal connected system, become part of the final product function. The effect of the mechanical stress on the welding point on the rigid PCB will fail after hundreds of cycles.
Economy of flexible PCB
If the circuit design is relatively simple, the total volume is small, and the space is suitable, the traditional interconnect way is much cheaper. Flexible PCB is a good design choice if the circuit is complex, Flex PCB processing many signals or having special electrical or mechanical properties. The flexible assembly method is the most economical when the applied size and performance exceed the capacity of the rigid circuit. On a thin film can be made into the inner with 5mil through hole 12mil pad and 3mil line and spacing flexible circuit board. Therefore, Flex PCB it is more reliable to directly mount the chip on the film. Because it does not contain the potential to be the source of ion-drilling flame retardants. These films may be protective and cured at higher temperatures, resulting in higher glass temperatures. Flexible materials are less costly than rigid materials because they are exempt from connectors.
High-cost raw materials are the main reason for the high price of flexible PCB. Raw Material price difference is big, the lowest cost of polyester flexible circuit board used raw materials cost is rigid circuit of raw materials used 1. 5 times times; High Performance Polyimide flexible PCB is up to 4 times times or higher. Flex PCB At the same time, the flexibility of the material makes it difficult to automate processing in the manufacturing process, resulting in a decline in production; defects are easily found in the final assembly process, including the stripping of flexible attachments and line breaks. Such situations are more likely to occur when the design is unsuitable for application. Flex PCB Under the high stress caused by bending or forming, it is often necessary to select reinforcement material or reinforcing material. Despite the high cost of raw materials, trouble-making, but folding, bending and multi-layer board function, will reduce the overall size of the assembly, the material used to reduce the total cost of assembly.
Generally speaking, flexible PCB is indeed more expensive and expensive than rigid circuit. Flexible plates in manufacturing, in many cases have to face the fact that many of the parameters beyond the tolerance range. Flex PCB The difficulty in making flexible PCB is the flexibility of the material.
Cost of flexible PCB
Despite the above-mentioned cost factors, the price of flexible assemblies is falling and is becoming close to conventional rigid circuits. The main reason is the introduction of updated materials, improved production processes and changes in the structure. Now the structure makes the product's thermal stability is higher, Flex PCB few materials do not match. Some newer materials can produce more precise lines because of thinner copper layers, making components lighter and more suitable for small spaces. In the past, the use of roll-pressing technology to adhere to the copper foil coated with adhesive media, now, can not use adhesives directly on the media to generate copper foil. These technologies can get a few microns thick copper layer, get 3m. 1 even narrower lines of precision. Flex PCB After removing some adhesives, the flexible PCB has the characteristics of flame retardancy. This can accelerate the UL certification process and further reduce costs. Flexible PCB solder mask and other surface coatings make the cost of flexible assembly further reduced.
In the next few years, smaller, more complex and more expensive flexible PCB assemblies will require more innovative methods of assembly and need to add hybrid flexible circuit boards. The challenge for the flexible PCB industry is to use its technical advantages to keep pace with computers, telecommunications, Flex PCB consumer demand and active markets. In addition, flexible PCB will play an important role in the lead-free action.
