What are Rigid flex Printed Circuit Boards?

PCB stands for “Printed Circuit Boards.” PCBs are basically used in electrical devices, to mechanically support i.e. to mount the components, and to electrically connect the various components in them.

Different Types of PCBs

There are several types of Printed Circuit Boards manufactured. PCBs are made to the specifications provided by the industry, market or customer. These customized PCBs usually fall in one of the following categories:

• Single side, Double-sided and Multi layered Printed Circuit boards
• Heavy Copper and Backplanes Printed Circuit boards

• Complex HDI Printed Circuit boards

• Flexible Printed Circuit boards
• Rigid-Flex Printed Circuit boards

• Metal backed Printed Circuit boards & Thermal-Clad Printed Circuit boards

Rigid flex printed circuit boards are produced using combinational technologies of rigid and flexible Printed circuit boards in one application, depending on the required design specifications. This means that rigid flex PCBs consists of flexible as well as rigid parts. They are basically single, double or multiple layered flexible substrates externally or internally attached to rigid circuit boards. The designs of rigid flex are more complex as they are to be in a constant state of flexibility and so are formed on flexed curve installation or manufacturing. Rigid flex boards are designed in 3D space and thus can be twisted, folded and rolled to achieve desired shape. This makes them suitable for various kinds of materials, track widths and vias that are used.

Rigid Flex Printed Circuit Board Uses and Benefits

• Rigid Flex Printed Circuit Boards easily cater to the shape of any device applying 3D techniques

• Rigid Flex PCBs are light in weight.

• Rigid Flex PCBs have flexible part for movement and rigid part for mounting the components.

• They have the advantage of saving space as they have connections without connectors.

• As Rigid Flex Printed Circuit boards are flexible, there are lesser solder joints. This assures reliability of high interconnections.

• They are semi flexible, making them easier to be handled during assembly.

• Due to the flexible shape and light weight the assembling and logistical costs of rigid flex boards is reduced.

• Rigid Flex Printed Circuit Boards are used in medical equipment as there is a requirement for it to be based on limited size, shape and space; such as pacemakers.

• Rigid Flex PCBs tend to be used in thousands of applications, in a wide array of industries e.g. aerospace, power supply systems, military weaponry and Weapon Control system, telecommunications and digital cameras.

The long list of advantages far outweigh the extra costs of flex-rigid PCB and, by making optimum use of the panel, these extra costs can be greatly reduced.