Disadvantages of rigid flex PCB
1. After the introduction of the supplier, it is generally understood that if only “flex board+circuit board+connector” is used to compare “rigid flex PCB”, the biggest disadvantage is that the price of “rigid flex PCB” is relatively expensive, which may be nearly twice as much as the original price of “flex PCB+rigid PCB”.
2. However, if the price of the connector or the cost of HotBar is deducted, the price may tend to be consistent. The detailed cost may have to be actuarial to get a clearer outline.
3. Another disadvantage is that the carrier may need to be used to support the part of the soft plate during SMT beating and furnace passing, which virtually increases the assembly cost of SMT.
Advantages of Rigid Flex PCB
In addition to price, using rigid flex PCB has many advantages, as listed below:
1. It can effectively save space on the PCB board and eliminate the need for connectors or HotBar processes.
The combination of rigid flex PCB allows for saved space that would have been used for connectors or HotBar manufacturing processes. For high-density requirement boards, the absence of a connector is highly valuable, saving costs on connector parts or the HotBar manufacturing process. Additionally, omitting connectors leads to a more compact space between the two boards.
2. Shortened signal transmission distance and increased speed, leading to improved reliability.
Compared to traditional signal transmission, rigid flex PCB reduces the signal transmission path from “circuit board → connector → flex PCB → connector → circuit board” to simply “circuit board → flex board → circuit board.” This decrease in the signal transmission distance and the reduction in signal transmission attenuation between different media improves the reliability of signal transmission. The use of rigid flex PCB also reduces the number of different media that the signal travels through, ultimately improving signal transmission ability, which is beneficial for products with high signal accuracy requirements.
3. Simplified product assembly and reduced assembly time.
The use of rigid flex PCB reduces SMT working hours by reducing the number of connectors, as well as overall assembly time by eliminating the assembly action of inserting the flex PCB into the connector or the HotBar manufacturing process. Additionally, it reduces parts management and inventory costs by reducing the BOM, making management more efficient.
Additionally, the recent development of endoscope technology has provided a powerful tool for non-destructive inspection of solder joints in BGA/CSP and other area array elements. This advancement enables the observation of difficult-to-access solder joints in narrow spaces at the bottom of components. The technology also allows for the observation of the appearance of tiny bumps inside cladding packages. Furthermore, the development of the next generation of soft endoscopes is in progress, with the ability to focus on embedded crystal bumps at various depths, providing essential observation for welding points in deep areas. The thin optical hardware of the endoscope must be precise, strong, and durable, with a supporting frame that facilitates clear image capture and protects optical parts on rigid flex PCB.
1. After the introduction of the supplier, it is generally understood that if only “flex board+circuit board+connector” is used to compare “rigid flex PCB”, the biggest disadvantage is that the price of “rigid flex PCB” is relatively expensive, which may be nearly twice as much as the original price of “flex PCB+rigid PCB”.
2. However, if the price of the connector or the cost of HotBar is deducted, the price may tend to be consistent. The detailed cost may have to be actuarial to get a clearer outline.
3. Another disadvantage is that the carrier may need to be used to support the part of the soft plate during SMT beating and furnace passing, which virtually increases the assembly cost of SMT.
Advantages of Rigid Flex PCB
In addition to price, using rigid flex PCB has many advantages, as listed below:
1. It can effectively save space on the PCB board and eliminate the need for connectors or HotBar processes.
The combination of rigid flex PCB allows for saved space that would have been used for connectors or HotBar manufacturing processes. For high-density requirement boards, the absence of a connector is highly valuable, saving costs on connector parts or the HotBar manufacturing process. Additionally, omitting connectors leads to a more compact space between the two boards.
2. Shortened signal transmission distance and increased speed, leading to improved reliability.
Compared to traditional signal transmission, rigid flex PCB reduces the signal transmission path from “circuit board → connector → flex PCB → connector → circuit board” to simply “circuit board → flex board → circuit board.” This decrease in the signal transmission distance and the reduction in signal transmission attenuation between different media improves the reliability of signal transmission. The use of rigid flex PCB also reduces the number of different media that the signal travels through, ultimately improving signal transmission ability, which is beneficial for products with high signal accuracy requirements.
3. Simplified product assembly and reduced assembly time.
The use of rigid flex PCB reduces SMT working hours by reducing the number of connectors, as well as overall assembly time by eliminating the assembly action of inserting the flex PCB into the connector or the HotBar manufacturing process. Additionally, it reduces parts management and inventory costs by reducing the BOM, making management more efficient.
Additionally, the recent development of endoscope technology has provided a powerful tool for non-destructive inspection of solder joints in BGA/CSP and other area array elements. This advancement enables the observation of difficult-to-access solder joints in narrow spaces at the bottom of components. The technology also allows for the observation of the appearance of tiny bumps inside cladding packages. Furthermore, the development of the next generation of soft endoscopes is in progress, with the ability to focus on embedded crystal bumps at various depths, providing essential observation for welding points in deep areas. The thin optical hardware of the endoscope must be precise, strong, and durable, with a supporting frame that facilitates clear image capture and protects optical parts on rigid flex PCB.
