Flex PCB Manufacturer

PA is China based Flex PCB manufacturer, focusing on servicing OEMs. We supply Fortune 100 with customized solutions, our R&D team delivered Flex-Rigid and Aluminum FPC with integrated heatsinks and other hybrid technology. Our Customers benefit from range of standard and complex high-tech solutions for automotive and industrial applications that we deliver. With all manufacturing processes under one roof we have the capacity and flexibility to develop, build samples and mass produce on the fly. Click HERE to see the list of our capabilities.

Selection Criteria: RIGID PCB or FLEX PCB

If you’re thinking what type of PCB substrate is better choice for your design, consider these highlights below:

1. DURABILITY

Does your application require highly durable design?
Flex PCB manufacturers deliver durable solutions where vibration-related damage present an risk. Reduced mass of the PCB dramatically improve it’s resilience towards vibration and G-force.  Because flex PCBs are manufactured with polyimide, they’re also well suited for high-heat conditions.

2. Flexible Areas

When working with flex PCB manufacturer take into account the bend ratio. This is expressed as a ratio of the thickness of the flex PCB versus the bend radius. Going below the bend ratio will result in higher possibility of mechanical failure.
If your product requires to flex frequently without breaking, flexible PCB material your preferred choice over wiring harness. Manufacturer is required to know number of bends the Flex PCB will be subject to in it’s intended lifespan, this will help in selecting suitable materials and manufacturing techniques.

3. Budget

When working out your device BOM budget, consider whether flex PCB costs are worth it. In general rule rigid PCB is less expensive than flexible circuits. Use of rigid of flex circuit boards often reduces the size and weight, design dependant.
Don’t dismiss flex PCBs as too expensive at face value, consider total design cost as flex PCB replace not just just rigid PCB but also wiring harnesses and simplify connections. It can also simplify assembly as for example in modern SLR Cameras and make compact packaging possible. To get an accurate understanding of the total cost of alternative, examine your design and see whether flex circuits may eliminate the need for some components, including

• Connectors and it’s size
• Wiring harnesses, for low current applications
• Additional rigid circuit boards with interconnectors

All things considered, flex PCB  often found be more cost-effective and in some cases the only suitable solution. Consult with a manufacturer engineer that specialises in PCB design .

4. Compact Designs and demanding applications

Electronics products designers place rigid PCBs in consumer devices, such as:

• Laptop computers and Tablets
• Wearable electronics such as smart watches
• Extensively used in medical industry, portable sensors and implants
• Photo cameras, consumer and industrial

Generally, for products that involve sophisticated designs, or required to meet high performance standards, flex PCBs are common place.

Some cost sensitive products that demand simplicity of installation and bendable conductors such as LED lighting use simplified and low cost flex PCB.

5. Flex PCB VS Rigid

Flex PCB have many similarities to rigid PCBs, see below:

• They both connecting components
• The design standards for flex and rigid PCB are similar in terms of thickness and hole size
• The manufacturing process is similar, so majority of design-for-manufacturability aspects you have with rigid PCB board type can be reflected in flex PCB

 

Quality assurance

It is recommended to engage with flex PCB manufacturer engineer at the early stage of the design. A valuable input can be made by manufacturer that consist of information on materials available, latest technological improvements and minor design changes suggestions that can result in measurable improvements and cost casings. Evaluating PCB substrate types is important at the beginning. You may want to conduct flexible PCB samples testing early in the design process to evaluate performance.

Still undecided on rigid PCB VS. Flex PCB?

We are just an email away. Fill in the contact form above and send us your question. Flexi PCB engineer will come back to you within 24 hours. We enjoy a great deal supporting design engineers and offering latest cutting edge technological news and improvements suggestions. Out R&D team support aerospace, medical and automotive engineers and have host of experience to share.