Epec's Blog | Electronics Manufacturing Solutions

Our nation’s warfighters demand the highest reliability vehicles, weapons, and communication systems that exist. Lives depend on these products working the first time and every time. They rely on the quality and reliability of the electronics behind their state-of-the-art systems.

Flex and rigid-flex printed circuit boards (PCBs) require design data that communicates both the electrical layout and the circuit’s physical behavior. Unlike a rigid PCB, a flexible circuit must fit into its intended space while accommodating bends, transitions, stiffeners, and other mechanical features.

At the conclusion of our webinar, EMI Shielding Methods for Flex & Rigid-Flex PCB Designs, we had several questions submitted to our presenter, Paul Tome, Product Manager of Flex & Rigid-Flex Circuits at Epec. We have compiled these questions into a readable format on our blog.

Typically, constraints are not something a designer wants to incorporate into a new project when first getting started on a new product. When you hear “constraint”, the first word that may come to mind could be “limitation”. Generally speaking, that word association is accurate, however, when dealing with CAD software it is not necessarily a negative thing.

Flexible circuits support a wide range of interconnect options, including nearly all connector systems commonly used on rigid printed circuit boards as well as several solutions developed specifically for flexible circuit applications.

I love looking at data. Sounds weird, right? I guess it is because I have been working in the industry for so many years. I have seen the technology changes, and I just find it fascinating. In this blog post, we will recap the past, which some of the time creeps its way back to Epec, the present, and the future of printed circuit boards (PCBs).
Let’s get to it.

The last 18 months have been some of the most challenging that many of us have had to deal with both personally and professionally. It has often felt like we were riding waves, coming closer to things getting a little more normal, only to have them change radically. Looking forward to the next 18 months, I don’t see those changes getting any easier for us or our industry.

With advancements in rigid-flex PCB design technology, the use of laser-based systems in the manufacturing process are very common in the industry. Not having laser drilling and cutting available would place significant limitations on what could be accomplished in a design and what components could be used.

Cable assemblies are needed across various industries and are utilized in goods that include consumer electronics, industrial products, mil areo, and even medical devices. Low cost does not mean low quality; in fact, low-cost cables are qualified for use on many high-reliability applications.

Many flexible circuit board applications require designs to be exposed to and or operate continuously at elevated temperatures well beyond that of standard room temperature. These requirements are above and beyond the requirements of component or connector assembly.