Beyond Design: High-speed Rules of Thumb
Global PCB Connections: A Technical Overview of Long-flex Printed Circuit Boards
The Shaughnessy Report: A Handy Look at Rules of Thumb
Rigid-flex DFA
September 19, 2023 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007Estimated reading time: 1 minute
Rigid-flex assembly brings its own set of issues, but designers can do quite a bit to make things easier on their downstream brethren. We asked IPC instructor Kris Moyer to give us the lowdown on DFA for rigid-flex circuitry.
Kris, what are some of the unique challenges related to assembling rigid-flex circuits?
There are several challenges to assembly of rigid-flex boards. First there is the alignment issue of the different sections of the boards. With a rigid board, the individual boards can be removed from the fabrication panel and run through the SMT assembly line without much problem, as long as the board is of sufficient size. In this case, the relative position of all the individual parts on the board remains consistent. But with rigid-flex, after the board is removed from the fabrication panel, the individual boards can move and rotate relative to each other within the limits of the flex material. This makes the placement of parts difficult to control. To overcome this, the board must be held in a restrained condition throughout the assembly process. This will require either the fabrication of a custom fixture to hold the board restrained during assembly or the design of temporary removable restraining mechanisms (rails) into the design of the board.
To read this entire conversation, which appeared in the September 2023 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.
Share on:
Suggested Items
Western Digital CEO David Goeckeler Elected Chair of Semiconductor Industry Association
11/22/2024 | SIAThe Semiconductor Industry Association (SIA) today announced Western Digital CEO David Goeckeler has been elected Chair of the SIA Board of Directors. SIA represents 99% of the U.S. semiconductor industry by revenue and nearly two-thirds of non-U.S. chip firms.
PCB007 Magazine: November 2024—Engineering Economics
11/18/2024 | I-Connect007 Editorial TeamThe real cost to manufacture a PCB encompasses everything that goes into making the product: the materials and other value-added supplies, machine and personnel costs, and most importantly, your quality. A hard look at real costs seems wholly appropriate.
Schweizer Electronic Lowers 2024 Financial Forecast Amid Challenging Market Conditions
11/06/2024 | Schweizer Electronic AGBased on the preliminary financial results for the first nine months of 2024 of the SCHWEIZER Group, the Executive Board has adjusted the forecast for the 2024 financial year.
One Partial HDI Technique: mSAP
11/05/2024 | Andy Shaughnessy, Design007 MagazineChris Hunrath, vice president of technology at Insulectro, believes that mSAP just might be the trick for designers considering partial HDI. As Chris explains, the materials and equipment required for the mSAP process are easily available, and the process is well established. This could be a great option for designers working with BGAs that have a pitch of 0.5 mm or less.
Real Time with... SMTAI 2024: SMTA Austin on the Grow
11/04/2024 | Real Time with...SMTAIIn this interview from SMTAI 2024, Nolan Johnson chats with SMTA Austin Chapter Treasurer Brad Pagano, who shares what he's learned in his first 10 months of board service with this growing chapter. His insights are good advice for board members in other chapters.