Flexible circuit
Flexible circuit reduces the size and weight of a finished product. It allows increased circuit density and eliminates bulky connections and wiring. And the added ability to fold the circuit expands the boundaries of design and packaging. Flexible Circuits is on the leading edge of flexible circuit technology and able to meet the strict requirements of electronic device manufacturers: high volume, cost, quality and reliability. With over 40 years of Flexible circuit experience, It is a global leader in flexible circuit development and delivery. On the foundation of our Sheldahl Technical Materials business unit, we uniquely offer vertical integration to rapidly tailor our laminate and cover film material to meet the specific requirements of our customers.
Flexible Circuits is a high-volume flexible circuit manufacturer processing almost 20 million square feet of single and double-sided circuits annually. Technology is based on low cost, high volume, reel-to-reel fabrication processes and techniques. Circuits can be designed in configurations from simple, single-sided conductive paths to complex high density three-dimensional assemblies. It utilizes a variety of fabrication materials from low cost polyester to mid range PEN to high density adhesiveless polyimide Novaclad supplied by our Sheldahl Technical Materials business.
It's vertical integration and design expertise begins with raw material fabrication, extends through circuit manufacturing, and ends with value-added assembly. It 's high volume capability in both materials technology and flexible circuit production, coupled with our component assembly facilities gives our customers a cost advantage others cannot match.
Today, Flexible circuit is the largest volume producer of flexible interconnects in the U.S., offering a full range of products to the automotive, computer, communications and medical markets. Our background and expertise in flexible circuits enable us to offer the right technical solution for every conceivable application.
Types of Flexible Circuits
Flexible circuit are made with a variety of materials and techniques suitable for different applications and can be single- and multilayer or rigid-flex. Considerations such as cost, solderability, and dynamic (continual) flexing will determine which materials are used to fabricate a flexible circuit. Circuit density can be increased by adding layers to the circuit axed decreasing line widths and spacing.
Primarily there are four types of Flexible circuit: single-sided, double-sided, multilayer, and rigid-flex. Single-sided circuits consist of a single conductive layer and are the simplest type of flexible circuit. They are also the most broadly specified, least expensive, and produced in the greatest volume. Single-sided circuits are always specified for dynamic flexing applications such as printer and disk drive heads. Double-sided and multilayer circuits cannot be used in dynamic flexing applications as the copper will fatigue in a short time.
A technique known as back baring or double access is used to create a special type of single layer circuit. This technique allows access to the metal conductors from both sides of the circuit and is used when component soldering or other interconnection is required on two sides of the circuit. This method eliminates plated-through holes required in multilayer circuits.
Double-sided circuits, as the name implies, are circuits with two conductive layers that are usually accessible from both sides. Multilayer refers to circuits with more than two layers. Interconnection between layers is usually by means of plated-through holes. Double-sided and multilayer circuits are used where increased circuit density is needed and there is no dynamic flexing.
Rigid-flex circuits combine flexible circuitry with rigid PC board technology to create an integrated circuit that has almost endless applications. The rigidized area can be used to reinforce the circuit in an area subject to abrasion or other stress or as an area to bond analog or digital devices.
Flexible printed circuits
Tech-Etch manufactures high reliability flexible printed circuits on polyimide substrates using advanced manufacturing processes. We specialize in single & double-sided circuits, as well as multi-layer and flex circuit assemblies. The flex circuits are built to the exacting specifications of our customers, meeting the most demanding of applications in the ultrasound probe, medical device, semiconductor test & manufacturing equipment, industrial equipment, and aerospace markets. With all engineering, tooling, and manufacturing operations housed in our state of the art 150,000 sq. ft. facility in Plymouth, MA, Tech-Etch is the perfect choice for all of your flex circuit needs from quick turn and prototype through production volumes.
Manufacturer of the Finest Quality Printed Circuits
Salco Circuits Inc. is a manufacturer of Rigid, Rigid-Flex and Flexible Circuits. We can design, manufacture, and assemble your printed circuit board needs per your requirements. With more than 20 years of electronic design services in electronic engineering and manufacturing, we offer the finest quality flex circuits with in-house CAD/CAM work stations and laser plotting. Design from schematic to artwork.
We specialize in R&D type projects where innovation, quality, reliability, and customer satisfaction are paramount. One of our greatest commodities is being able to communicate with our customer, so we can help them to achieve the desired finished product with the intended results. We can also expedite your product to meet your delivery on time. We are constantly seeking to stretch the limits of flex circuit technology. Please browse though our web site for more information.
Flexible Circuit and PowerFlex Capability
Plymouth, MA.... For high power applications Tech-Etch has the capability to produce PowerFlex circuits with heavy copper layers up to .030" thick. PowerFlex circuits can be manufactured to UL
standards to meet Program 758 (AVLV2) Component Appliance Material and Program 764 (ZPFW2) Component Wiring Harnesses. These circuits can be as large as 18" by 24" and precisely formed to comply with packaging requirements. In addition to PowerFlex, Tech-Etch's manufacturing capabilities include multilayer, fine-line and adhesiveless flex circuits, plus microvias, beryllium copper conductors and cantilevered leads.
Tech-Etch, Inc., ISO 9001:2000 registered, also manufactures precision parts and is a global leader for standard and custom RFI/EMI shielding products for the commercial and military markets.
Flexible Circuit Materials
Flexible Circuit Materials have been the foundation of the flex circuit industry for decades and comprise a broad offering of materials used to make circuitry in a wide variety of applications. These materials enable the design and manufacture of increasingly complex circuits for greater functional capacity and miniaturization, while maintaining high reliability through quality and consistency.
DuPont has global reach with knowledgeable sales and technical support staff located in all regions of the world. While global in scale, we are local in response, offering customized constructions to meet the specific needs of the application.
In today*s unpredictable electronics market, you can rely on DuPont for your flexible circuit material needs.
Packaging; reduced Weight and Space requirements
The flat planar nature of flexible circuits, and the high track density achievable, offers considerable weight and space savings over traditional wire harnesses. Thickness can be as low as 0.004* (0.10mm), and weight reductions of over 75% have been achieved. Flex circuits have many packaging advantages. For example, unlike a rigid printed circuit board, which can only be positioned in two dimensions, flex circuits can be bent, twisted, and folded to utilize a 3rd dimension. This property can be utilized in complex and tight-fitting assemblies where it would be impossible to accommodate several rigid boards and harnesses.
3M Flexible Circuits
Through 100 years of technological expertise and innovation, 3M has learned how to help customers stay competitive in the market. It takes materials and process expertise, creative solutions, proven technologies, speed to market, close customer relationships and supply chain excellence.
Electronics manufacturers turn to 3M for their custom flexible circuits. Learn more about how we can provide you with total solutions for your interconnect needs.
* Drawing on the vast materials and process expertise from across the company, we provide our customers with unique solutions that increase their yield, lower total applied costs, and reduce critical time-to-market.
* This in-depth technical knowledge is available around the world, through our global network of design and manufacturing facilities. Technical support and 3M* Flexible Circuits are there when and where you need them.
* We produce your initial prototypes on production quality tooling to save you time and money -- something other flex circuit suppliers don't typically do. Our supply chain professionals work closely with your own team to ensure seamless integration into your manufacturing process anywhere around the world.
Features of this advanced film:
* High peel strength obtained with a monel (nickel-copper) tie-coat. For superior adhesion chrome or nickel-chrome tie-coats are available upon request
* Minimal pinholes due to clean room processing and thorough pinhole root cause analysis
* Substrate film: polyimide (PI) currently available; polyetherimide (PEI), liquid chrystal polymer (LCP), polyphenylene sulfide (PPS), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN) or polyester (PET) upon request
* Substrate thickness typically 25 to 125 m (1 to 5 mil)
* Thicknesses of copper ranging typically from 5 to 18 m (0.14 to 0.5 oz.), 2 m upon request. Also available with seed layer only
* Perfectly suited for high density circuitry and semi-additive circuit fabrication
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