Advantages and Disadvantages of FPC (flexible printed

circuit )

Definition of FPC:
When we talk about the FPC in our industry, most of us know it stands for Flexible Printed Circuit, the update products of PCB. Also for the Flexible Circuits, the most broadly accepted definition is the one that is found in the industry standard IPC-T-50 Terms and Definitions for Printed Boards. In that document, flexible circuits are defined as A patterned arrangement of printed wiring utilizing flexible base material with or without flexible cover layers. But different countries will have different meanings. If you want know the real meaning of FPC in the circuit industry, please visit our homepage where you will find out what a real Flexible Printed Circuit is! Our website is www.wonderfulpcb.com

Advantages of FPC:
FPC is the printed circuit board which is made of flexible insulating base material. It has many advantages many rigid PCBs dont have. 1. The flexible printed circuits are designed to save room and improve product design flexibility, which can satisfy the design need of smaller and higher density installation, in favor of decreasing mounting steps and improving reliability, and become the only solution for satisfying the miniaturization and flexibility of electronic products. It can be bent, rolled, folded freely, can be arranged randomly according to the space, can be moved and stretched in 3-D space, then integrate the components assembly and wiring connection. 2. The flexible circuit boards are to etch the copper trace on the polymer base material, or to print polymer heavy layer circuit. In regard to thin, light, tightly and complicated structured components, their design scheme comprises from single sided conductive circuit to complex multilayer 3-D packing. The overall quality and volume of flexible packing decreases by 70% than using the traditional mega wire thread method. The flexible circuit can also increase its strength by using supporting material or lining board, so as to obtain extra mechanical stability. 3. The flexible circuit provides good electrical performance. Lower dielectric constant allows electrical signals to transmit quickly. Good thermal performance makes the assembly easy to cool. Higher glass transfer temperature or melting point makes the assembly work well at higher temperature.

Disadvantages of FPC:
1. Original cost is high
Because the FPC is designed and made for special application, the cost of circuit design, wiring and photographic plate is high. Except special need, wed better not use them.

2. its hard to amend or repair the FPC.

The engineers have to amend it from the light painting program of the base sheet and draw up, if they want to revise them after the FPC is finished. So its very complex to making revisions. Usually the flex printed circuit board would have a cover layer to protect the circuits, so if we want to repair the defected boards, then we have to remove the cover layer film before repairing, and recover this layer after repairing, which would be a very complex work.

3. It is easy to be damaged.
The FPC is very thin, and it will be easily damaged during the mounting procedure. The workers for soldering and re-working should be well trained.

Website: http://www.wonderfulpcb.com