The electronics industry is witnessing a new wave of change. A number of miniaturized products are now available. Many commercial products are being designed to be worn by the user. At the same time, there is a demand for better speeds, and small packaging densities. All these aspects have to be taken into consideration by flex PCB manufacturers during PCB assembly.
A
Brief Look at one Application Industry
Let us take the example
of the medical device market. This is one of the fast growing markets in the
world. In this industry, you have equipment such as wireless healthcare units,
and remote patient monitoring systems. Many of the devices used by doctors or
patients are now wearable. These devices require miniature components, thinner
materials, and custom circuit geometries.
For such requirements,
the standard 1 ounce copper will not be equitable. With the reduction in
densities, PCBs will need to be constructed with materials between 9 and 12
microns.
Flexible printed circuit
boards are the answer to this new requirement. Flex circuits can be designed in
small sizes, thus assisting in the product miniaturization process. They can be
designed in almost any thickness level, depending on the manufacturing
materials. They are not limited by the standard PCB thickness ranging from .031
to .062ʺ.
They can create strong
interconnections, while supporting assembly and packaging processes. Overall,
they provide a dynamic electro-mechanical solution. Flex PCBs are particularly
useful for PCB assembly processes. They can be configured with repeatable
conductors that ensure no errors in the assembly process.
These various points are
the reasons behind the continual popularity of Flex PCBs. The points justify
manufacturers choosing flex circuits rather than rigid PCB designs. With more
custom flex designs being created by manufacturers, the new wave of electronics
components will be extremely successful.