What is FPC Flexible PCB?
Flexible circuit boards, also known as “soft boards”, are printed circuits made of flexible insulating substrates. FPC Flexible PCBs can provide high electrical performance, meet the design requirements of smaller and higher density installation, and help reduce the assembly process and enhance reliability. In this article, we will introduce the types of FPC Flexible PCBs.
1) The bidirectional access flexible circuit is a single-sided flexible circuit designed to access conductive materials from both sides of the flexible circuit.
2) The double-sided flexible circuit consists of two conductive layers located on either side of the basic layer in the circuit. The wiring pattern can be formed on both sides of the substrate sheet, and the wiring on the two sides can be connected through copper plated through-holes, based on specific requirements.
3) Multilayer flexible circuits are a combination of several single-sided or double-sided circuits with complex interconnections, often using shielding technology and surface mount technology in the design.
4) Rigid flexible circuits combine the advantages of rigid printed circuit boards and flexible circuits, with circuits interconnected through electroplated vias between rigid and flexible circuits.
One of the main advantages of FPC Flexible PCB components is its ability to realize almost error-free wiring and replace labor-intensive manual wiring. Unlike rigid circuits, flexible circuits can also be designed into complex three-dimensional structures as they can be bent into various shapes. Flexible circuits are suitable for highly repetitive applications, such as on print heads, as they can be bent back and forth countless times. Additionally, when considering product weight, flexible circuits are a good alternative to rigid circuit boards and conductors due to their thin dielectric materials and conductor circuits. With the development of science and technology, it is believed that flexible circuits will become smaller and more complex in the near future, leading to higher assembly costs. Therefore, PCB practitioners need to constantly understand, learn, and master more knowledge about flexible circuits to stay competitive in the industry.
Precautions for using FPC Flexible PCB:
1) FPC Flexible PCB should be coated on the surface to prevent oxidation and should be stored in an environment with a temperature below 25 ° C and humidity within the range of 50% – 70%.
2) While FPC Flexible PCB has strong bending resistance, the exposed part of the conductor should not be bent, and direct bending on the through-hole should be avoided. The FPC ink type protective layer must not be bent at more than 90 ° C during assembly, or at 180 ° C, as this may lead to wire breakage and other problems.
3) Stress concentration areas of FPC Flexible PCB, such as the covering film, the finger tip, and the corner of the shape, are prone to cause line breakage during the assembly process and require special attention.
During testing, a high current spring sheet micro needle module can be used for connection and conduction, effectively transmitting high current and maintaining a stable connection within the range of 1-50A. It can also handle small pitches, ensuring stable FPC Flexible PCB testing between 0.15 mm and 0.4 mm without pin jams.
Flexible circuit boards, also known as “soft boards”, are printed circuits made of flexible insulating substrates. FPC Flexible PCBs can provide high electrical performance, meet the design requirements of smaller and higher density installation, and help reduce the assembly process and enhance reliability. In this article, we will introduce the types of FPC Flexible PCBs.
1) The bidirectional access flexible circuit is a single-sided flexible circuit designed to access conductive materials from both sides of the flexible circuit.
2) The double-sided flexible circuit consists of two conductive layers located on either side of the basic layer in the circuit. The wiring pattern can be formed on both sides of the substrate sheet, and the wiring on the two sides can be connected through copper plated through-holes, based on specific requirements.
3) Multilayer flexible circuits are a combination of several single-sided or double-sided circuits with complex interconnections, often using shielding technology and surface mount technology in the design.
4) Rigid flexible circuits combine the advantages of rigid printed circuit boards and flexible circuits, with circuits interconnected through electroplated vias between rigid and flexible circuits.
One of the main advantages of FPC Flexible PCB components is its ability to realize almost error-free wiring and replace labor-intensive manual wiring. Unlike rigid circuits, flexible circuits can also be designed into complex three-dimensional structures as they can be bent into various shapes. Flexible circuits are suitable for highly repetitive applications, such as on print heads, as they can be bent back and forth countless times. Additionally, when considering product weight, flexible circuits are a good alternative to rigid circuit boards and conductors due to their thin dielectric materials and conductor circuits. With the development of science and technology, it is believed that flexible circuits will become smaller and more complex in the near future, leading to higher assembly costs. Therefore, PCB practitioners need to constantly understand, learn, and master more knowledge about flexible circuits to stay competitive in the industry.
Precautions for using FPC Flexible PCB:
1) FPC Flexible PCB should be coated on the surface to prevent oxidation and should be stored in an environment with a temperature below 25 ° C and humidity within the range of 50% – 70%.
2) While FPC Flexible PCB has strong bending resistance, the exposed part of the conductor should not be bent, and direct bending on the through-hole should be avoided. The FPC ink type protective layer must not be bent at more than 90 ° C during assembly, or at 180 ° C, as this may lead to wire breakage and other problems.
3) Stress concentration areas of FPC Flexible PCB, such as the covering film, the finger tip, and the corner of the shape, are prone to cause line breakage during the assembly process and require special attention.
During testing, a high current spring sheet micro needle module can be used for connection and conduction, effectively transmitting high current and maintaining a stable connection within the range of 1-50A. It can also handle small pitches, ensuring stable FPC Flexible PCB testing between 0.15 mm and 0.4 mm without pin jams.
