What Industries Commonly Use Flex Circuit Boards?

Flex Circuit Boards

If you’ve purchased any electronic device in the past 30 years or have just looked around at the procession of laptops, phones, MP3 players and more that float by, you’ll notice something about them all. They’re smaller, more compact and often assembled on flexible circuit boards rather than traditional rigid PCBs. Flexible printed circuit boards provide a significant amount of design flexibility that helps manufacturers save space and create more reliable devices.

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The biggest sector that relies on flex circuit boards is computer technology, as many computers, laptops, tablets and mobile devices require a high level of computing power in a small, handheld package. Flex PCBs are ideal for these applications, as they offer a great balance of performance and weight.

What Industries Commonly Use Flex Circuit Boards?

Another large area where flex circuit boards are used is in the automotive industry, as vehicles have evolved over the years to include everything from backup cameras to dashboard electronics and GPS software. The average car is filled with electronics that need to be robust and durable, so a flexible printed circuit board that can withstand vibrations and other stresses is a smart choice for the vehicle industry.

In the medical industry, flex circuits are used in devices like pacemakers, defibrillators and other critical healthcare equipment that requires high levels of reliability. These devices are designed to be bended and twisted, which is why a flexible circuit board that can adapt to its environment is the best option for these applications.

Rigid flex PCBs can be found in many other industries, including aerospace, where they are used to create electronics that are capable of handling extreme temperatures and vibrations. They are also used in industrial machinery and other applications that require a combination of flexibility and adaptability.

The class III type of flex PCB is designed for high-reliability electronics, such as military and aerospace products that must operate continuously under harsh conditions or life-support medical equipment. These types of devices require the highest level of inspection and testing, but they can also be shaped into complex three-dimensional shapes to meet unique requirements.

When compared to rigid PCBs, a flex circuit board is less expensive and more lightweight. It is possible to design a flex circuit with up to 75% of the traditional hardware removed, which leads to lower assembly costs and increased productivity. In addition, a flex circuit can bend and twist into unusual shapes that would be difficult or impossible with a rigid PCB. The thin substrate that a flex circuit uses is made of a polyimide or polyester film with conductive material traces etched into it in as many layers as the PCB needs, and then covered with a protective coverlay to protect it from moisture, dirt and other environmental elements.