There are several types of flexible circuits that can be designed according to the needs of the customer. Given below are a few basic types:
What is Single Sided Flex?
It comprises a conductive layer of copper on one side of the PCB. Single sided circuit PCBs are ideal for dynamic applications, or equipment that require circuits with high levels of flexibility. They are known for their immense cost-effectiveness and ease of assembly.
What is Double Sided Flex?
An expansion on the singled sided flex PCB, the double sided flex comprises a conductive layer of copper on both sides of the PCB. Generally, the copper layers are connected to each other by Plate Through Holes (PTH) or vias. These holes or vias create an active circuitry between the layers.
What is Multi-Layer Flex?
As the name suggests, multi-layer flex circuits comprise more than two copper conductors. In a typical circuit, you will find up to 10 conductive layers. Like the double sided flex circuit boards, multi-layer PCBs are interconnected by PTH holes or Vias.
What is Rigid Flex Circuit Boards?
This circuit is a combination of rigid and flexible circuits. The flexible layers are integrated with the rigid layers, and the PCB is assembled using PTH technology. The advantage of this type of circuit is that the combination of rigid and flex layers creates small interconnect areas, which reduces the chances of PCB failure in an application.
What is High Density Interconnects?
Also known as HDI, high density interconnects are flex circuit boards, which are designed to provide more technical solutions in terms of design, layout, and construction. Each HDI includes extremely dense flex circuitry with precise features and microvias.
What materials are used in flexible PCB?
There are single-sided, double-sided and multi-layered forms in flexible circuits, each of which requires a variety of materials to function. The materials that MCL works with include both custom and branded materials from trusted suppliers. A few of the materials you can choose from include these:
Adhesives
The requirements of an application, as well as the dimensions of the conductor involved, tend to guide adhesive selection. Some of the most popular adhesives on the market include acrylics, epoxies, pressure-sensitive adhesives (PSAs) and adhesive-free base materials.
Finishes
A few of the finishes you can choose from include carbon, gold, hard nickel, tin, silver and even organic materials. Each option creates different results and is best suited to different applications, so be sure to consult with MCL on the best finish for your needs.
Insulators
Insulators are a must, and you’ll need the right insulation material to match your PCB. The wrong insulator might result in PCB failure in the long term. PCB insulators combine cover materials and flexible substrates in a variety of form factors and thicknesses.
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