What is Flexible PCB ?

Flexible PCB stands for  Flexible Printed Circuit Board (FPCB)  or sometimes we just called it FPC which is made of a flexible plastic substrate, copper foil, and adhesive laminate,  with very thin and high levels of bendability, tensile strength, and physical flexibility. Its lightweight, high precision, can have multiple layers of traces, and can be used to paste wafers or SMT wafers on the board. The circuitry is usually combined with electronic components such as led, IC chips, capacitors, and resistors to make the electronic product functional. Like other PCB, Flex PCB is constantly pursuing higher line density and number of layers to improve the performance of flexible boards and reduce power

flexiblepcb850

Benefits of Flexible PCB

 Maximum Reliability & Durability. Flex PCB requires fewer interconnects, which in turn requires fewer contact crimps, connectors, and solder joints. It can move and flex up to 500 million times without failure. It does not contain as many potential sources of failure, which enhances its reliability, and durability

• Saving Space. Flexible PCB can be bent and concave and are thin, so they are often used for connections where there is less space and the components are more. Its’ design requires only about 10 percent of the space and weight of an ordinary circuit board assembly, offering greater installation and packaging freedom. 

Enhanced Capabilities. They are compatible with virtually any type of connector or component and work well with options such as a ZIP connector. The thermal stability of Polyimide flex materials is performing extremely well in very high temperatures, they also offer superior resistance to oils, radiation, and chemicals.

• Cost Savings. It reduced material and packaging demands, lower parts replacement costs, and assembly errors that could result in the need for repairs. 

fpcb

Types of Flex PCB

Single-sided: basic types of flexible boards, consisting of a conductor layer coated with a bonding layer, followed by a dielectric layer. Advantages include an easy manufacturing process and lower prices. 

Double-sided: A double-sided substrate is used to form the circuit, and after the circuit is formed on both sides, a covering film is added to each side. the Main Benefits of double Flex PCBs is more flexibility in design, space-saving and double-sided soldering

Multilayer FPCMainly made up of single or double panels, and drilled to allow the conductive layers to pass through, increasing the density of the circuit and improving reliability. Enables more compact package more flexible in 3D designs with PTH, blind, and buried vias.

Rigid-Flex PCB:  FPC is pressed together in series between two rigid PCBs to form one printed circuit board, which is called a Rigid-flex PCB. Most rigid-flex circuit boards consist of multiple layers of flexible circuit substrates attached to rigid boards externally and/or internally. The flexible substrates are designed to be in a constant state of flexibility and are usually formed in a flexed curve during manufacturing or installation. This is dependent upon the design of the application.

Flexible PCB Structure

fpcsinglesided1
Single Sided Flex PCB
fpc double sided structure
Double Sided Flex PCB
fpc multilayer structure
Multi-Layer Flex PCB

Flexible PCB Capability

 Type

Prototypes Costs 

Capability

Delivery

US$250~

Min Width/Spacing 2.5mil

6 work days~

US$350~

Min Width/Spacing 3.5mil

7 work days~

according to customers’ drawing files

Min Width/Spacing 4mil

according to  customers’ drawing files

according to customers’ drawing files

Min Width/Spacing 4mil

according to customers’ drawing files

Special Treatments

Tin – Plating, Nickel, Gold, EN IG, OSP/ Impedance control / EMI shield

S.M.T for all kinds of active and passive components, including LED, Resistor, Diode, etc.

Certification

ISO 9001, IATF16949,  ISO14001,  UL 94V-0

The official quotation is available on customers’ spec. & drawings

Contacts: TEL: 02-22679000 #604  Email : mks@mks.com.tw

Flex PCB Manufacturing Process

flex pcb process

Flexible PCB Material

Copper Foil

Generally, there are two kinds of Copper Foil that are often used, Rolled Anneal Copper Foil and Electrodeposited Copper Foil, thickness are 1/3oz, 1/2oz (0.7 mil), 1oz and 2oz
ED copper (Electro Deposit)
Electrolytic copper has lower cost and good electrical conductivity, but the material is more prone to fracture or breakage. For products that do not require high bendability, electrolytic copper can be used. 
RA copper (Rolled Annealed copper)
The production cost is higher, but its flexibility is better. Therefore, RA is the most common material used for flexible circuit boards in high bending applications. 

ED copper  VS.  RA copper

Features

ED

RA

Purity

99.8%

99.9%

Ohm-cm

1.8×10-6

1.7×10-6

Elongation at break

10%

10%

Tensile Strength @180℃

20kpsi

14kpsi

Bend Cycles to Failure

10~100

106

 

Flexible PCB Products

fpc+rubberblack
fpc with rubber keypad
fpc with hi transmission module
fpcb for high speed signal transmission module
fpcb with usb
Rigid Flex PCB with USB
fpc+rigid pcb +metal dome
flex pcb with metal dome
fpc 3d
flexible pcb for 3D camera
FPC COMBINE4
flexible printed circuited board
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