What Industries Use Flex Circuit Boards?
Industries Use Flex Circuit Boards
A flex circuit board is a printed circuit board that has been designed for flexible usage and is usually constructed using a copper foil. A wide variety of foil materials are available from which a flex PCB can be constructed however, the vast majority of flex circuits use copper as it provides an excellent balance between cost and physical/electrical performance. The copper is normally etched from the foil in order to create the circuit paths.
flex circuit board are very popular for many reasons. They provide an excellent way to save space, reduce weight and are much more reliable than rigid boards. These are particularly important factors for many industries, like medical, automotive and consumer electronics. Unlike rigid boards, flex circuits are able to be manipulated by the end user without electronic failure and can even replace wire cables in some cases. This reduces the overall assembly process and associated costs including the cost of wire, multiple purchase orders, inventory, inspection, kitting and assembly labor.
The first advantage that comes to mind when thinking of a flex circuit board is its flexibility. This allows the circuit board to be bent and shaped in unique ways that are necessary for certain applications. Flex PCBs are also more durable than their rigid counterparts and can withstand billions of bending cycles over the course of a lifecycle.
What Industries Use Flex Circuit Boards?
Another great benefit that comes to mind when considering a flex circuit is the ability for easy routing path duplication. This is a huge advantage that greatly reduces the number of wire connections in an assembly and decreases the chance of operator error during the installation process. The flexibility of the flex circuit is also an asset in harsh environments that would damage or warp rigid circuit boards.
The list of industries that use flex circuits is endless. The most common flex circuits are found in consumer electronics, but they are also utilized in automobiles, aerospace and defense, medical devices and many other technological applications. The flex circuits in these products are used to connect and power the many electrical components within the device.
There are two fundamental structural applications that a flex circuit must meet: static and dynamic flexing. Static flex applications only need the circuit to flex in the initial installation of the product, so they generally use Electro Deposited (ED) copper. Dynamic flexing applications, on the other hand, will see the circuit flex several times during use and require Rolled Annealed (RA) copper. This is most often the case with flip-style cell phones and laptops.
Other useful features of flex circuits include improved airflow and heat dissipation. This helps to keep the internal components cool and frees up space that could otherwise be occupied by bulky wire and solder connections. They can also be designed for higher density applications with extremely narrow lines and spaces.
The final benefit of a flex circuit is that it can be designed for bio-compatibility. This is a great feature for medical and wearable applications and is possible through the use of polyimide materials.