Six-Layer Rigid Flex
A six-layer combination rigid flex circuit has six conductive copper layers. The two most common design types are as follows:
Six-Layer Rigid Flex – Two flex layers and four rigid layers
Six-Layer Rigid Flex – Four flex layers and two rigid layers
Flexible Circuit Technologies, a premier global supplier in design and production of
Flexible Circuits, Rigid Flex, Flexible Heaters, Flat Flex Cables, Membrane Switches, Plastic Moldings, Assemblies, Product Module Builds to Complete Product Box Builds
For more in depth information on Rigid Flex, click on the links below:
There are many high level benefits to Rigid Flex circuits including:
Connection Reliability – Connecting rigid layers with flexible cables is the foundation for combination rigid flex circuits.
Lower Part Count – Compared to a traditional rigid board, combination rigid flex circuits require fewer parts and interconnections.
Flexible Design Options – At Flexible Circuit Technologies, we pride ourselves on taking on the most complex of design challenges. Rigid flex circuits can be designed to meet highly complex and unimaginable configurations while utilizing a rigid substrate. Rigid flex circuit designs could entail any of the following:
- Highly complex configurations
- Controlled Impedance
- Three to eight-layer combinations
- Reduced interconnections
High Density Applications – More often than not, the rigid component of a rigid flex circuit is utilized for high density device population. In addition, flexible circuits allow for minutely narrow lines giving way to high density device population. Denser device populations and lighter conductors can be designed into a product, freeing space for additional product features.
Package Size and Weight Reduction – Multiple systems in rigid boards create more weight and utilize more space. Combining rigid boards with flexible circuits allows for a more streamlined design thus reducing package size and weight.
There are two fundamental structural applications that must be understood about the flexible component of a rigid flex:
Static Application – An application where flex circuits are needed only to install the circuit and fit it into its application (also known as flex-to-fit or flex-to-install).
Dynamic Flexing Applications – A situation where the flex circuit area itself is dynamically flexed for any number of reasons above and beyond a simple install.
It will be key to understand some background on Rigid flex circuits:
- Advances in rigid circuit board technology has broadened the applications on electronic products from computer, communication, and consumer electronics, to automotive, medical, and military electronics.
- Increasing demand for more powerful and smaller products drives the need for multiple layers to accommodate denser, finer line width and spacing and smaller hole sizes.
Conductors – Copper is the most widely used conductor and comes in various thicknesses to meet each customer’s requirements. Conductor options include:
- Rolled annealed (RA) copper
- Electro deposited (ED) copper
Adhesives – Adhesive selection depends on customer needs and conductor thickness. Common adhesives include:
- Epoxy
- Acrylic
- Pre-preg
- Pressure Sensitive Adhesive(PSA)
- Adhesiveless base material
Insulators – Flexible substrate (base) and cover lay materials are available in a variety of thicknesses. Common insulators include:
- FR-4
- Polyimide
- Polyester, Polyethylene Naphthalate (PEN), and Polyethylene Terephthalate
(PET) - Solder mask
- Flexible solder mask
- Photo image-able cover lay (PIC)
Finishes – The final finish depends on each customer’s assembly requirements and the application of the finished product. Common finishes include:
- Solder (Tin/Lead or RoHS compliant)
- Tin
- Immersion nickel/gold
- Hard nickel/gold
- Wire bondable gold
- Organic: Entek or Organic Solderability Preservative (OSP)
- Silver
- Carbon
As the Rigid flex circuit market continues to expand, there have been many advances in technology including:
Air Gap – Through the process of selective bonding, increased flexibility is achieved by “unbonding” layers so they are allowed to flex freely. At Flexible Circuit Technologies, we are proud to be a leading designer of this air gap technology allowing your designs more flexibility.
Component Assembly – Flexible Circuit Technologies offers through hole and surface mount capabilities, as well as in circuit testing, conformal coating and electrostatic protective packaging.
Controlled Impedance – With increasing signal switching speeds, engineers need to understand and control the impedance of traces. With short signal transition times and high clock rates of modern digital circuitry, traces need to be considered transmission lines instead of simple interconnections. With today’s higher speed requirements, controlled impedance traces are designed to minimize electrical reflections and ensure an error free transition between the track and interconnections. Controlled impedance, if perfectly optimized, allows control of the physical dimensions and material of the cable. Controlled impedance signal transmission requires flexible circuit materials to be uniform in both thickness and electrical properties. It is necessary that the circuit manufacturer accurately etch the copper foil to optimize impedance.
Panelization – Multiple circuits are partially die-cut with break-out tabs to allow them to remain in the panel for component assembly during the “pick & place” and wave soldering processes. Once the panel of rigid flex circuit boards is assembled, simply clip them out by cutting the breakout tabs and they are ready for assembly into your final product.
Pressure Sensitive Adhesives (PSAs)– PSAs with a release liner are used in applications where a portion(s) of the circuit needs to be secured to a specific location within the final product. During assembly, the release liner is peeled away and the exposed adhesive allows the assembler to press the circuit into place and keep it there.
Shielding – Shielding is applied when an application requires limits in electromagnetic and/or electrostatic interference. Protective shielding can be patterned or solid. Either way, it reduces noise and controls impedance of signal lines. Repeatability is ensured through etching.
In summary, if you have flexible circuit design or flexible printed circuit board needs, we can help.