Rigid-flex PCB Market Gaining Expansion Momentum

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The market for rigid-flex PCBs, though smaller than those for other PCB product lines, is gaining expansion momentum as more PCB makers in Taiwan and China are moving to expand their rigid-flex board businesses to tap potential demand driven by increasing IoT and automotive applications.

Currently, battery modules, camera lens modules and true wireless stereo (TWS) headsets are the three major application segments for rigid-flex boards. PCB makers are most eager to tap the camera module segment as rigid-flex boards are the top choice for such modules whether used in handsets or automobiles.

12/18/2019 | Kelsey Smith, All Flex

Application: Design guidelines to improve the flexibility and reliability of flexible circuits. Most issues that arise with flex circuits can be eliminated in the early stages of the design phase, and special planning must occur when the circuit is required to bend. Many novices will design a circuit that calls for bending the flex in too tight of a bend radius, which can cause damage to the circuit and lower the reliability of the end product.

11/21/2019 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 Magazine

This month, I interviewed Nick Koop—director of flex technology at TTM Technologies, a veteran “flex guy” and instructor, and a leader of several IPC flex standards committees. Nick provides an update for the committees he’s involved with and discusses some of the challenges that he sees as more designers enter the world of flex.

10/11/2019 | Kelsey Smith, All Flex

Many of the issues that arise when using a flex circuit come from a lack of knowledge about how to properly design one, especially when the circuit is required to bend.