Dan’s Biz Bookshelf: ‘Elevate: Push Beyond Your Limits'
The Marketing Minute: The First Step to More Sales—Marketing
It’s Only Common Sense: Customer Service Is Sales in Disguise
Decreasing Bend Radius and Improving Reliability- Part II
November 22, 2019 | Kelsey Smith, All FlexEstimated reading time: 1 minute
Application: Design guidelines to improve the flexibility and reliability of flexible circuits.
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. 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. This series of articles will focus on the seven key aspects to consider when designing for maximum durability and maximum “flexibility”. It is important to know that because flexibility is a relative term this study will instead use the term reducing bend radius. Below are two of the seven design strategies. Please see Part I and Part III for more tips!
3. Do not allow electroless copper as a seed layer prior to plating vias.
- Also, an area to be concerned about is the type of plating your vendor uses. Some copper plating requires a seed layer of electroless copper. This seed layer becomes an ED copper layer and can lead to conductor cracking. For a tight bend radius direct metallization is the preferred plating method.
4. Use only Polyimide covers in the flexing area.
- There are two options for applying dielectric material over copper:
A. Polyimide cover material: This is the preferred material in areas where parts will be bent. As a general rule, you will want to specify a dielectric thickness and adhesive thickness separately. A rule of thumb is that for every 1 ounce of copper thickness there is 1 mil of adhesive thickness.
B. Flexible Solder Mask: Flexible solder mask has a minimum bend radius of 0.4” and is not recommended for any dynamic flexing application or application where the bend radius will be tighter than 0.4”
Share on:
Suggested Items
Silicon Mountain Contract Services Enhances SMT Capabilities with New HELLER Reflow Oven
07/17/2025 | Silicon Mountain Contract ServicesSilicon Mountain Contract Services, a leading provider of custom electronics manufacturing solutions, is proud to announce a significant upgrade to its SMT production capability with the addition of a HELLER 2043 MK5 10‑zone reflow oven to its Nampa facility.
Knocking Down the Bone Pile: Addressing End-of-life Component Solderability Issues, Part 4
07/16/2025 | Nash Bell -- Column: Knocking Down the Bone PileIn 1983, the Department of Defense identified that over 40% of military electronic system failures in the field were electrical, with approximately 50% attributed to poor solder connections. Investigations revealed that plated finishes, typically nickel or tin, were porous and non-intermetallic.
SHENMAO Strengthens Semiconductor Capabilities with Acquisition of PMTC
07/10/2025 | SHENMAOSHENMAO America, Inc. has announced the acquisition of Profound Material Technology Co., Ltd. (PMTC), a premier Taiwan-based manufacturer of high-performance solder balls for semiconductor packaging.
KYZEN to Highlight Understencil and PCB Cleaners at SMTA Querétaro Expo and Tech Forum
07/09/2025 | KYZEN'KYZEN, the global leader in innovative environmentally responsible cleaning chemistries, will exhibit at the SMTA Querétaro Expo & Tech Forum, scheduled to take place Thursday, July 24, at Centro de Congresos y Teatro Metropolitano de Querétaro.
Driving Innovation: Direct Imaging vs. Conventional Exposure
07/01/2025 | Simon Khesin -- Column: Driving InnovationMy first camera used Kodak film. I even experimented with developing photos in the bathroom, though I usually dropped the film off at a Kodak center and received the prints two weeks later, only to discover that some images were out of focus or poorly framed. Today, every smartphone contains a high-quality camera capable of producing stunning images instantly.
Copyright © I-Connect007 | IPC Publishing Group Inc. All rights reserved.
Log in