flex PCBs be used in electrochemical sensors
A flexible printed circuit board (PCB) is an electronic assembly that has the ability to adapt to a product’s shape. Flexible PCBs are used in a wide variety of products from laptops, tablets and cell phones to airplanes and unmanned vehicles. They are typically much smaller than rigid PCBs and they offer a number of benefits including lower inductance, wire routing errors and assembly time and effort reduction.
Flex PCBs can be made using a variety of metal foils, which are etched to create the circuit paths. They are then glued to an insulating dielectric film and then hot-pressed with a protective cover layer such as Polyimide to form the completed flexible circuit. Plated through holes (PTH) are then added to the finished flexible circuit board for connections to components.
Single-sided flex circuits are the most common type of flex pcbs. Using a single copper layer as the conductor, the layers are hot-pressed together with an insulating dielectric film for electrical insulation and protection from the elements. Plated Through Holes (PTH) are then added to the bare copper layers to provide connectivity. A protective cover layer such as Polyimide is then added to both sides of the flex circuit for finishing and protection.
Can flex PCBs be used in electrochemical sensors?
Double-access flex circuits use two separate copper layers, but they allow access to specific features on the conductor pattern from both sides of the PCB. They can be fabricated with or without plated through holes, though the plated option is more common. They can also be fabricated with or without a protective cover layer.
Rigid-flex circuits are created by laminating a rigid part to a flex PCB. They combine the best of both worlds and offer the strength of a rigid PCB with the dynamic adaptability of a flexible one. These types of hybrid circuits can be used in a wide range of consumer devices such as calculators and mobile phones.
Compared to rigid PCBs, flex circuits are lighter and smaller and they can be bent or twisted without affecting their conductivity. They are also able to withstand higher levels of strain and vibration. However, a flex PCB has a higher cost than rigid or rigid-flex PCBs and they require special care to ensure that they are not damaged during the fabrication process.
To reduce the cost of a flex PCB, it is important to consider the layer count and panel utilization when designing your product. A high number of layers can add to the complexity of the laminate and result in higher manufacturing costs. It is also important to understand the underlying costs of your flex circuit, including plating, selectivity and surface finishes. By minimizing layer count, choosing the right materials and reducing the width of your traces, you can minimize the cost of your final flex or rigid-flex PCB. Get started on your flex or rigid-flex design with the complete set of CAD features and automated drawing tools within Altium Designer. Try a free trial today.
