The copper weight and corresponding thickness used in a flexible circuit board need to be carefully selected in order to meet both the electrical and mechanical bend requirements of specific flex circuit design. Copper weight for a flex PCB is both the stiffest and most critical component.
In the flexible printed circuit board manufacturing process, a flex circuit coverlay (aka coverfilm) is used to encapsulate and protect the external circuitry of a flexible circuit board.
A flexible circuit coverlay serves the exact same function as solder mask that is used on a rigid printed circuit board. The difference with a flex coverlay is the needed element of flexibility and durability it provides to the flex PCB design.
Considering using a flexible printed circuit board (flex PCB) in your next project? Flex circuits offer several advantages, whether you plan to use them in a future project or for revamping your existing designs. Here we detail some of the most impactful advantages of flex PCB, including packaging, reliability, capabilities, and cost savings.