The traditional approach to confirm that the folded board fits within its enclosure has been to create a mechanical mockup - known as a paper doll cut out. A printed circuit board design software package that allows full customization of your next flex or rigid-flex board. If coverlay layers are added to the substack before that substack is assigned to a Board Region, the coverlay objects will be present when the substack is assigned to a Board Region. Meet demands of a globalized market that requires unique versions of your PCBs. Rigid-flex has conductors on the rigid layers, which differentiates it from multilayer circuits with stiffeners. Not all designers or engineers are familiar with flex and rigid-flex design, but the right design software and techniques will help you be successful. The output for a coverlay can be divided into 2 categories: The centerline of the 1mil wide closed polyline is the edge of the coverlay. As mentioned, in a traditional rigid PCB the copper and insulating layers exist across the entire PCB, so a single layer stack can be defined for the entire board shape. In Board Planning Mode, define the shape of the flex-only PCB and assign the flex substack in the Board Region mode of the Properties panel. You are reporting an issue with the following selected text, Entry Level, Professional PCB Design Tool, Free PCB design for makers, open source and non-profits, See why and how to switch to Altium from other PCB design tools, Extensive, Easy-to-Use Search Engine for Electronic Parts, Add the coverlay layer(s) into the substack and configure the layer properties in the, Defining Bends in the Flex Region (Advanced mode), How Output is Generated for Coverlay Layers, Designing a Flex-only PCB (Advanced mode), Designing a Board with a Flex Region Inside a Cutout (Advanced mode), Displaying and Folding a Rigid-Flex Design in 3D, 3D Movie Maker Support for Rigid-Flex Designs, Defining the Substacks (Standard Rigid-Flex Mode), Defining the Substacks (Advanced Rigid-Flex Mode), Rigid & Flex Regions Planningin Standard Rigid-Flex Mode, Bending Zone Definition in Standard Rigid-Flex Mode, Rigid & Flex Regions Planningin Advanced Rigid-Flex Mode, Bending Zone Definition in Advanced Rigid-Flex Mode, Editing Polygonal Shaped PCB Design Objects, Flex and Rigid-Flex Circuits Technical Engineering Guide, Altium Designer also supports including rigid-flex boards as part of a multi-board design. Entry Level, Professional PCB Design Tool, Free PCB design for makers, open source and non-profits, See why and how to switch to Altium from other PCB design tools, Extensive, Easy-to-Use Search Engine for Electronic Parts, Flex and Rigid-Flex PCB Design Guidelines and Assembly in Altium Designer, Flex Circuit Design Guide: Getting Started with Flexible Circuits. Pouch material can be used for ease of manufacturing and must be removed from the flexible portion of the board prior to shipping. Place the Bending Line across the flexible board Region. The image below shows an example of a board with static ribbons. Pouch material can be used for ease of manufacturing and must be removed from the flexible portion of the board prior to shipping. 1 I am planning to design a bookbinder with airgap rigid flex PCB using Altium. The thickness of acrylic adhesive through the rigid portion of the panel shall not exceed 10% of the overall construction. For single-layer circuits, the minimum ratio should also be at least 5:1. Routing - stagger the routes on two layer boards to avoid beaming and widen the routes through the bending zone (especially important for permanent bends). His background in scientific research spans topics in nanoparticle lasers, electronic and optoelectronic semiconductor devices, environmental sensors, and stochastics. Besides photolithography, flexible circuits can also be produced by laminating thin copper strips in PET layers. Solder Mask layers normally display and output as a negative, that is, the objects you see on the screen become holes in the fabricated mask layer. The Advanced rigid-flex mode does not use Split Lines, instead the edge of the Board Region defines where one Substack ends and the adjacent Substack begins. From conception to delivery of the fully assembled PCB, this document takes you through basic design stages along with giving you proven industry practices. Below is a summary of key design areas that must be considered when designing a rigid-flex PCB: Typical suggested documentation requirementsinclude: Flex and Rigid-Flex Circuits Technical Engineering Guide - Epec Engineering Technologies, Flexible Circuit Technology - JoeFjelstad, Flex Circuits Design Guide - Minco Products Inc. Select the Design Layer Stack Manager command to open the Layer Stack Manager, where you can enable the required rigid-flex mode, and create and align the Substacks needed in your rigid-flex design. The board shape is often defined by a mechanical designer in an MCAD application. To support the need to define a different set of layers in different areas of the board design, the PCB editor supports the concept of multiple layer stacks. A rigid-flex design does not have a consistent set of layers across the entire circuit design;the rigid section of the board will have a different set of layers from the flexible section. In the PCB editor, this is achieved by supporting the ability to assign a layer sub-stack to a specific region of the board shape. The goal is to give readers a point of reference to help answer these questions and design reliable flex PCBAs that can be produced with maximum yield. Rigid-flex is the name given to a printed circuit that is a combination of both flexible circuit(s) and rigid circuit(s), as shown in the image above. There are several advantages to using flexible materials. Designing any PCB is a three-dimensional design process, but for a flex or rigid-flex design the three-dimensional requirements are much more important. Based on guidelines from Altium, and various other sources, it is important to have "staggered lengths", to prevent the PCB from buckling when it is bent. Vias or interconnects can be fully covered for maximum insulation. If your flex circuit needs to carry a power or ground plane, you can use solid copper pours. This page looks at the FPGA Pin Mapper, used to create a link between an external pin file (such as one exported from FPGA or Microcontroller (MC) tools) and a schematic component, and then compare the pin signals between those two domains (FPGA and PCB), This page looks at the ability to place components directly from a company database through use of a Database Library. Access holes or exposed pads without covers can be on either or both sides. Double-sided flexible printed wiring containing two conductive layers with plated through holes, with or without stiffeners. Two bending lines have been defined, allowing this rigid-flex board to be displayed in its folded state. There are a number of standard stackups available for flex and rigid-flex circuits, referred to as Types. If your design has more complex rigid-flex requirements, such as overlapping flex regions, then you need the Advanced Rigid-Flex mode (also known as rigid-flex 2.0). This engine also supports rigid-flex circuits, and when used in combination with the Fold State slider in the PCB panel, it allows the designer to examine their rigid-flex design in the flat state, the fully folded state, and anywhere in between. The Flex PCB shall be fabricated to IPC-6013, class (your requirement here) standards. IPC2581B - as with ODB++, supporting multiple layer stack definitions and polygons of layer stack regions. Altium Rigid Flex Guidebook Uploaded by Kiran Jot Singh Description: Altium Rigid Flex Guidebook Copyright: All Rights Reserved Available Formats Download as PDF, TXT or read online from Scribd Flag for inappropriate content Download now of 40 RIGID-FLEX PCB DESIGN A GUIDE BOOK FOR DESIGNERS By Ben Jordan Editors: Max Clemons, Ben Jordan Regions can be drawn so they are overlapped, note that this does not define the extent that a flex region overlaps into a rigid region, that is defined by the, To slice a Board Region into two smaller regions, use the, The location and shape of an existing Board Region can be edited, using the standard. Two conductive layers with an insulating layer between; outer layers can have covers or exposed pads. Preparing Rigid-Flex PCB Documentation for Manufacturing There are two rigid-flex design modes available in Altium's PCB design software. Dynamic flexible circuits (also referred to as use B) are those that are designed for frequent flexing,such as a disk drive head, a printer head, or as part of the hinge in a laptop screen. Main article: Defining Board Regions and Bending Lines. As the name suggests, a flexible printed circuit is a pattern of conductors printed onto a flexible insulating film. It is very simple to do and does not require the use of movie key frames during the folding sequence. Conserve copper - consider how the flex circuit will be panelized;it might be better to adjust the design to ensure best material usage. Other copper foil thicknesses are available for specialized design. For a rigid-flex design made up of a number of rigid and flex regionswhere each region needs a different layer stack, an alternative approach is needed. There are many engineering and scientific disciplines that must be harnessed and managed to bring your vision to life. Your bending region is much easier to define when you have a 3D view of your circuit board. Altium Designer makes it easy to customize your layer stack-up. Size, weight, the ability to bend around corners and to flex during use to name just a few. Select the Design Place Coverlay Polygon commandfrom the main menus. For double-sided circuits, the minimum ratio should be at least 10:1. A dimensional drawing, including reference datum(s), critical dimensions, rigid to flex interfaces, bend locationand direction markers. Designing a flex or rigid-flex circuit is very much an electromechanical process. In standard 2D display mode, the custom coverlay is shown as if it is on the top/bottom solder mask. Mechanical Rigid-Flex Design Designing a Rigid-Flex PCB Enabling Rigid-Flex Design Implement any kind of layer stack for both rigid and rigid-flex PCBs. Coverlay layers are added in the Layer Stack Manager and the shape of coverlay objects can be manipulated in Board Planning Mode, once coverlays have been enabled for that region of the board. Learn about the finer points of rigid-flex PCB design with Altium expert Ben Jordan. It also allows you to simulate complicated flexible polyimide ribbon shapes. Altium is helping to solve this challenge with CoDesigner, a sophisticated mechanical-to-electronic design interface technology. Learn more about working with rigid-flex and multi-board design in Altium Designer. Construction and Layer detail, detailing material used for each layer, thicknesses and copper weights. The outline can be used to define a cutting path for the coverlay. Planning a layer stack in flex and rigid PCB regions in Altium Designer. Flexible circuits are normally divided into two usage classes: static flexible circuits, and dynamic flexible circuits. That said, I am going to veer slightly off topic with the caution to NOT forget to review, Best PCB Design Software for Circular PCBs and Other Non-Standard Shapes, To answer the unique design challenges of circular PCBs and other non-standard board shapes, you need the power of Altium Designer. Coverlay is automatically added to cover the entire area of the Board Region it was added to, as shown in the image below (in accordance with the Coverlay expansion value defined in the Layer Stack Manager). Youll have the flexibility to customize your devices, stack-up, and components. It ispopular today as it not only saves space and weight - making it ideal for portable devices such as mobile phones and tablets - it can also reduce packaging complexity, improve product reliability, and reduce cost. Youll need to define your bend regions as you create a layout strategy for your board. Created: January 6, 2023 | Updated: January 6, 2023 Applies to Altium Designer version: 23 Contents The Layer Stack Manager Editing the Layer Stack Properties Defining the Layer Stack Configuring the Layer Properties and Materials Layer Types and their Properties Materials Library and Library Compliance Layer Stack Symmetry Layerstack Visualization Zoomed in, a custom coverlay cutout is selected - as with the coverlay outline the cutout is also defined as a closed polyline. Zachariah Peterson has an extensive technical background in academia and industry. To edit the properties of a Bending Line, click anywhere within the region to display the verticies for all Bending Lines within that region, then: Double-click on the vertex of a Bending Line to open the. Bending Lines can be applied to board cutouts edges. ODB++ - Specific layer stack material regions are output (polygons and polygon cutouts) in ODB++ v7.0 and later, which properly supports multiple layer stacks and rigid-flex definitions. You can also read the original, full-length content here: Flexible Circuits: Getting Started with a Flex Circuit Design Guide Your device application and form factor require you to consider whether your flex elements will be static, dynamic, or creased. Youll need to understand the mechanical properties of your materials to design the right bend radius, and many of the foundational concepts of rigid boards still apply. While dragging, the coverlay polygon can be rotated or mirrored: Pad/via openings - the output for pad/via openings is generated in the same way as regular top/bottom solder mask output: an object of the correct size/shape is flashed, in accordance with the applicable solder mask expansion design rule, or the object settings if the local override is enabled. A normal hatched polygon still has heavily biased copper stresses in 0, 90, and 45 angle directions, due to the alignment of hatch traces and Xs. The board shape is a fundamental concept in the PCB editor. Altium Designer also supports rigid-flex when designing the physical assembly board of a multi-board design. This allows you to check component clearances and match your boards dimensions to your board enclosure. When the Coverlay layer is the active layer, clicking on the Board Region will select the Coverlay, not the region. The ability to fold a rigid-flex design can also be captured as a 3D movie. Two or more conductive layers with either flexible or rigid insulation material as insulators between each one; outer layers can have covers or exposed pads. For an engaging discussion on the materials, technologies and processes used in rigid-flex design, as well as information about the challenges involved with the production of a rigid-flex board, download and read the free Rigid-Flex Guidebook by Altiums Ben Jordan. For a dynamic application, aim for a bend ratio of 20-40:1. There are a number of layer stackup configurations that can be fabricated as rigid-flex, each with its own electrical, physical, and cost advantages. Once you define your bending radius, copper weight, and location in your polyimide ribbon, you can use some mechanical design tools to model how your board will bend and conform to its enclosure. Learn more about the unified platform in Altium Designer. Store your libraries and design data in one secure, accessible, and version-controlled space. Altium Designer places all of these tools in a unified rules-driven design interface that is adaptable to any electronics application. To switch to the 3D display mode, press the 3 shortcut key (press 2 to return to 2Dor 1 to return to Board Planning Mode). Rigid-flex PCBs are a time-proven, well-understood technology initially used within the military/aerospace industry decades ago. An integrated PCB editor along with real-time connection to multiple domains. PCB Design Guide for Engineers Part 1: The Team This PCB Design Guide for Engineers: Part 1, Altium Designer Evaluation Guide for Autodesk EAGLE Users_2017, Altium Evaluation Guide For Autodesk Eagle Users, PCB Design Guide for Engineers: Part 2 Planning, PCB Design Guide for Engineers Part 2 - Planning The PCB Design Guide for Engineers is a series that serves as a guide for the novice/student, or electronics engineering professional. Implement these flexible circuit design tips to help you build your next flex or rigid-flex PCB. Single-sided flexible wiring containing one conductive layer and one or twopolyimide outer cover layers. A common feature on rigid-flex boards is the selective use of coverlay material. Working with multiple boards and rigid-flex designs is simple in Altium Designer. There are a number of ways the board shape can be defined. The original, or standard mode, referred to as Rigid-Flex, supports simple rigid-flex designs. Each of these options comes with its own set of flexible design techniques. Ideally, multi-layer circuits should have a bend ratio of at least 15:1. Hover the cursor over the image to see the Flex substack. A rigid-flex circuit, designed to tightly integrate into its enclosure. Service loop - make the flex region slightly longer to help with assembly/disassemblyand to allow for product dimensional variations (the extra length is referred to as the service loop). Delivering a working electromechanical design requires close and constant collaboration between the mechanical and electrical engineering teams. The covercoat material shall be per IPC 4203/1. As the project engineer, your first task is identifying your team. Traditional thru-hole and SMT connectors, high density circular connectors, D-subminiature connectors, pin and socket connectors, leaded and unleaded, are all options to consider with flexible materials. Learn more about best practices for layer stack design in Altium Designer. If a region has a layer stack assignedand that stack has the IsFlex option enabled in the Properties panel, Bending Lines can be placed across that region. Examples of polyimides often used in the manufacture of flexible circuits include: Apical, Kapton, UPILEX, VTEC PI, Norton TH, and Kaptrex. | , Entry Level, Professional PCB Design Tool, Free PCB design for makers, open source and non-profits, See why and how to switch to Altium from other PCB design tools, Extensive, Easy-to-Use Search Engine for Electronic Parts, EBook: HDI PCB Design and Manufacturing Guide. This includes Gerber files, assembly drawings, and much more. It has the two key frames described above, plus one additional key frame that was added at the end to hold the final position for a second. These processes are very similar to rigid PCB fabrication processes, but involving different material sets as illustrated in an earlier guide. The Types are defined in the following standards: IPC 6013B - Qualification and Performance Specification for Flexible Printed Boards, MIL-P-50884E - Military Specification: Printed Wiring Board, Flexible or Rigid-Flex, General Specification for (available here). To add coverlay layers: Add the coverlay layer(s) into the substack and configure the layer properties in the Layer Stack Manager. Some PCB design programs still force you to export a model of your board to an external tool in order to verify your bending clearances. This guidebook offers a comprehensive look at design for manufacturing, and how to ensure your PCB design will be manufacturable at high yield. Refer to the main article referenced above for a detailed description of how to make a 3D movie. The covercoat material shall be per IPC 4203/1. Designing a Rigid-Flex PCB in Altium Designer Using Altium Documentation Created: September 21, 2020 | Updated: February 2, 2022 Now reading version 21. It is very simple to do and does not require the use of movie key frames during the folding sequence. Design tools with integrated 3D design features, as well as standard routing and layout tools that operate in 3D, will easily adapt to rigid-flex and flex circuit boards. Access critical supply chain intelligence as you design. By far, rigid printed circuit boards are the most problematic as the boards may break during manufacturing or handling.