Flex Time: Why is Rigid-Flex So Expensive?

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One question that I hear fairly often, particularly after an initial quotation, is “Why is rigid-flex so expensive?” In this article, I’ll share with you the cost drivers in rigid-flex relative to standard rigid boards and flex circuits with stiffeners. A typical rigid-flex PWB will cost about seven times the cost of the same design on a hard board, and two to three times an equivalent flex circuit with stiffeners. A good way to estimate the cost of rigid-flex board in low-level production quantities is 35 to 40 cents per square inch, per layer. So, if you have an eightlayer board that measures 4” x 6”, your costing would look like this:

8 layers x 4” x 6” x $0.40/sq.in. = $ 76.80 each

Again, this applies only to low level production quantities. This is a helpful calculation for getting a quick, rough idea of what your part might cost as a rigid-flex. Rigid-flex PWBs cost quite a bit more, primarily because of the higher cost of the raw materials we use to build them, relative to standard rigid boards or even flex boards. The number one cost driver is the no-flow prepreg. Rigid-flex manufacturers have to use no-flow, or sometimes low-flow prepreg, so that the resin does not flow out onto the flexible areas of the board. No-flow prepregs are designed to offer just enough flow to fill the circuits in the hardboard areas, but not enough to flow out onto the flexible areas of the boards.

No-flow and low-flow prepregs run from $1.50 to $3 per square foot. Conventional rigid board high-flow prepregs run around $.25 per square foot, so there is a large differential in price just for the prepreg. A couple of other things contribute to the cost as well. No-flow prepreg is only available in 1080 and 106 glass cloth styles, which typically press out at .0025” and .002” respectively, so they are thin. Rigid-flex manufacturers don’t have 2113, 2116, 7628 glass styles available to manufacture your board. It is wise to use two plies of prepreg between layers within your construction. The no-flow resin resists flowing, so to assure adequate fill, we use two plies of prepreg between each layer.

To read the full version of this article which appeared in the April 2018 issue of Flex007 Magazine, click here.