Flexible printed circuits offer design options that can reduce your product costs, enhance product performance, and improve efficiency when the appropriate steps are taken during your product startup. Adhering to these guidelines will assist designers or engineers in more effectively integrating flexible circuit technology into packaging solutions.
Conduct research on flexible circuit terminology as this will facilitate communication with vendors and result in a better design. Many terms used by suppliers are specific to the industry. Numerous resources, including the IPC (refer to “Terms and Definitions for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits” IPC-T-50 Rev. H), provide design guides or terminology. You don’t need to become an expert, but understanding the relevant terminology will significantly enhance the design process.
Select the right supplier for your requirements; there are numerous flex circuit manufacturers willing to collaborate with you, but not every supplier will be able to meet your specific needs. You should inquire extensively about your prospective supplier. Does the potential vendor have experience in your industry? Can they demonstrate proficiency in the design you are attempting to create? If your design requires fine lines, what is their proven capability for line width and spacing? How long have they been producing flex circuits, and what is their long-term stability? Is the management team committed to continued investment in this technology? These and other questions should be part of your due diligence when selecting the right provider. Additionally, you should speak with other clients of your potential supplier; insist on obtaining customer references as a condition of doing business. Conversing with some of the supplier’s clients can provide valuable insight into what it’s like to work with them.
Developing a technical dialogue with your flexible circuit vendor can significantly enhance interaction and streamline the product introduction process. A robust relationship can ensure mutual investment in the success of the program. Engaging with a contact who can elucidate the processes, materials, design guidelines, and cost implications will increase the likelihood of success and enhance the overall experience.
Ensure that your supply chain team recognizes that a flexible circuit is custom-made and engineered with unique features specific to its usage application. Assuming this product is a commodity readily available anywhere can often result in higher costs, poor delivery, and diminished reliability.
Allocate sufficient time in your overall project to leverage your suppliers’ expertise so that you can incorporate cost-saving ideas and enhance design robustness. A highly compressed timeline will lead to higher costs and lower quality as the vendor is pressured to produce a hastily designed product in a quick turnaround setting.
Evaluate the entire cost of ownership rather than solely focusing on the product price. Opting for an offshore vendor might seem like a cost-saving measure, but communication issues, lack of timely technical support, travel expenses, and delayed project launch costs can quickly offset any component savings offered by an overseas supplier. Some of the lowest-cost flexible circuits are manufactured in the United States. These companies employ highly automated machinery and can compete with any manufacturer worldwide. Other US suppliers specialize in lower volumes with high product mix manufacturing, an area where many overseas manufacturers struggle. While most of the above points may seem like common sense to experienced flex users, buyers sometimes underestimate the complexities involved in effectively utilizing flexible circuits in their electronic designs. Incorporating some of the guidelines provided in this article will hopefully increase your chances of a successful launch.
Conduct research on flexible circuit terminology as this will facilitate communication with vendors and result in a better design. Many terms used by suppliers are specific to the industry. Numerous resources, including the IPC (refer to “Terms and Definitions for Interconnecting and Packaging Electronic Circuits” IPC-T-50 Rev. H), provide design guides or terminology. You don’t need to become an expert, but understanding the relevant terminology will significantly enhance the design process.
Select the right supplier for your requirements; there are numerous flex circuit manufacturers willing to collaborate with you, but not every supplier will be able to meet your specific needs. You should inquire extensively about your prospective supplier. Does the potential vendor have experience in your industry? Can they demonstrate proficiency in the design you are attempting to create? If your design requires fine lines, what is their proven capability for line width and spacing? How long have they been producing flex circuits, and what is their long-term stability? Is the management team committed to continued investment in this technology? These and other questions should be part of your due diligence when selecting the right provider. Additionally, you should speak with other clients of your potential supplier; insist on obtaining customer references as a condition of doing business. Conversing with some of the supplier’s clients can provide valuable insight into what it’s like to work with them.
Developing a technical dialogue with your flexible circuit vendor can significantly enhance interaction and streamline the product introduction process. A robust relationship can ensure mutual investment in the success of the program. Engaging with a contact who can elucidate the processes, materials, design guidelines, and cost implications will increase the likelihood of success and enhance the overall experience.
Ensure that your supply chain team recognizes that a flexible circuit is custom-made and engineered with unique features specific to its usage application. Assuming this product is a commodity readily available anywhere can often result in higher costs, poor delivery, and diminished reliability.
Allocate sufficient time in your overall project to leverage your suppliers’ expertise so that you can incorporate cost-saving ideas and enhance design robustness. A highly compressed timeline will lead to higher costs and lower quality as the vendor is pressured to produce a hastily designed product in a quick turnaround setting.
Evaluate the entire cost of ownership rather than solely focusing on the product price. Opting for an offshore vendor might seem like a cost-saving measure, but communication issues, lack of timely technical support, travel expenses, and delayed project launch costs can quickly offset any component savings offered by an overseas supplier. Some of the lowest-cost flexible circuits are manufactured in the United States. These companies employ highly automated machinery and can compete with any manufacturer worldwide. Other US suppliers specialize in lower volumes with high product mix manufacturing, an area where many overseas manufacturers struggle. While most of the above points may seem like common sense to experienced flex users, buyers sometimes underestimate the complexities involved in effectively utilizing flexible circuits in their electronic designs. Incorporating some of the guidelines provided in this article will hopefully increase your chances of a successful launch.
