Rigid

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In a recent interview with Design007 Magazine managing editor Andy Shaughnessy, he asked me about rigid-flex and its new popularity. This seems like a perfect opportunity to dig into the topic and discuss the differentiation between rigid-flex, rigidized flex, and what I am calling a hybrid flex.

The Original: Rigid-flex

Rigid-flex technology was developed years ago for military and aerospace applications. But rigid-flex has become more popular in recent years. Open a cellular phone, for example, and more than likely the internal electronics are mounted on a rigid-flex.

In case you’re not familiar with the technology, a rigid-flex is a blend of a rigid printed circuit board and a flex circuit. To manufacture a rigid-flex, a flex circuit is compressed between layers of a rigid PCB design, which leaves the flex area exposed to, well, flex. The rigid areas are, in most cases, used for placing components. The vias/through-holes in both the rigid and flex areas are aligned and plated just like a normal multilayer circuit solution, creating a hybrid, one-piece integrated solution.

Designers of products are learning the advantages of rigid-flex:

To read this entire article, which appeared in the June 2023 issue of Design007 Magazine, click here.