best suited for designing rigid flex boards
A rigid flex board has a combination of firm and flexible sections that allow it to bend and twist in response to mechanical forces. This type of circuit is often used in electromechanical applications like automotive electronics, portable electronics devices and medical equipment.
rigid flex board require special considerations in their design and layout. It is important to choose a PCB layout supplier that understands the requirements and acceptance standards established by IPC (International Committee for the Production of Electronic Components).
The right design software will have features that provide you with the tools to create a successful rigid flex PCB, including an intuitive stackup manager, flexible routing options and 3D visualization. It should also support the import of CAD data from mechanical engineering and allow you to synchronize the design of the rigid and flex sections. This will eliminate manual checks and workarounds and speed up the layout process.
What design software is best suited for designing rigid flex boards?
One of the most important aspects of a rigid flex design is to correctly define and place the flex regions. This will ensure that you get the most out of your flex section. For example, to avoid layer buckling during bending, you should stagger the length of flex zones by approximately 1.5 times their thickness. This helps to keep your flex zone straight and prevent the formation of a service loop, which can cause failures in the field.
It is also important to use a rigid-flex stackup that separates ground planes and signal planes. This will help to prevent EMI and noise coupling between components. Additionally, it will make the signal and ground planes more accessible to conductive copper on the flex circuit.
Once you have defined your rigid and flex zones, the next step is to route your traces and signals. It is important to make sure that you have a robust routing tool that can handle the unique flex geometries and layout challenges. A good routing tool will offer the ability to automatically stagger routes, widen traces and signal paths in the flex zone, and ensure that your traces are not touching each other.
Finally, it is critical to use an accurate 3D view that will enable you to visualize the alignment of your traces and pads. This will help you determine if your design is going to fit in your mechanical enclosure and if there are any clearance issues. It is also a good idea to use a 3D view to check if the flex circuit is meeting IPC-A-610-D-2005 guidelines.
Choosing the right design software for your rigid-flex PCB project will save you time and money in the long run. Altium Designer provides you with all of the tools you need to take your flex and rigid-flex board from concept to completion in a single software package. Start designing your flex and rigid-flex boards with Altium Designer today.
