Flex Circuit Brochure
Flex Circuit Brochure
Tech-Etch specializes in the design and manufacture of high-reliability flexible printed circuits, serving industries such as medical, telecommunications, and industrial electronics. This guide provides an overview of materials, processes, and design considerations for flexible circuits.
Materials
Conductors: Copper is the primary material used for circuit traces, with thicknesses ranging from 0.0007" to 0.0028". Specialty metals like stainless steel, BeCu, and cupronickel are also available for specific applications.
Insulators: Polyimide film is commonly used as an insulator in flex circuits.
Via Types
Tech-Etch offers plated through vias, blind vias, and buried vias to connect different layers of a circuit. Laser drilling technology allows for vias as small as 0.001" in diameter.
Coverlayer
The coverlay is an insulating layer over conductors, typically made from polyimide film. For high-density applications, a photo-imageable coverlayer is used.
Finishing
Finishing processes include electroplating with materials like tin, nickel, and gold. Electroless finishing options are available for designs where traces cannot be bussed.
Stiffeners
Stiffeners are used to rigidize circuit areas, with materials like polyimide film and FR-4. They provide strain relief and support for component attachment.
Design Guidelines
Tech-Etch provides guidelines for line width, spacing, and via dimensions. The company offers engineering support to ensure manufacturability and cost-effectiveness.
Assembly and Testing
Tech-Etch offers surface mount and through-hole component assembly, with capabilities for handling small package sizes and specialty components.
Mechanical Properties
Flex circuits can be up to 16" long with up to 6 conductive layers. Guidelines for bend radius and temperature limits are provided.
Specialty Processing
Tech-Etch offers processes like polyimide etching, additive processing, and selective plating to meet specific design requirements.
Markets and Capabilities
Tech-Etch serves various markets with a focus on customer service and engineering support. The company is ISO 9001:2008 certified and offers a wide range of processes including photo etching and EMI/RFI shielding.
Conclusion
Tech-Etch provides comprehensive solutions for flexible circuit design and manufacturing, with a commitment to quality and innovation.
Catalog excerpts
Flexible Printed Circuits Design Guide Selective Plating of Gold & Tin-Lead ^ Cantilevered & Windowed Leads
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SINGLE LAYER FLEX CIRCUIT SOLDER ACCESS HOLE MATERIALS CONDUCTOR Copper is the most commonly used material for circuit traces and offers the most cost effective solution. Thickness typically ranges from .0007" to .0028". Tech-Etch works with both adhesive based and adhesiveless substrate materials. Tech-Etch also has the capability to manufacture circuits from specialty metals to support specific applications. Some examples are stainless steel for corrosion resistance, BeCu for spring properties, Cupronickel for high resistance applications, and selective tungsten segments when radiopacity is...
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FINISH Exposed pads will typically need a finish for corrosion resistance or compatibility with the assembly process or application. Electroplating is the most common finishing process. However, it can only be accomplished when all the conductors are connected to a common external bus during fabrication. Tech-Etch offers in-house electroplating of Tin, Tin Lead, Copper, Nickel, Soft Gold, and Hard Gold. Beryllium Copper Circuits Windowed Leads For designs where the traces cannot be bussed into the panel, electroless finishing options such as hot air solder leveling, immersion gold over electroless...
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ASSEMBLY / TEST MECHANICAL PROPERTIES Optimum Sizes Tech-Etch provides circuits up to 16" long. Multi-layer circuits up to 6 conductive layers are available. Consult factory for larger sizes. Shielding For designs requiring shielding, additional layers of copper can be added in solid or grid patterns. Conductive ink shield layers are also available. Tech-Etch offers value added assembly to provide turnkey solutions. Surface mount component package sizes down to 0201 and leaded components down to .4mm pitch are attached using our automated pick & place equipment. Tech-Etch also offers through...
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Tech-Etch has specialized in the manufacture of high reliability flexible printed circuits for over 25 years. Our focus is on customer service and manufacturing Flex Circuits to your exact specifications. We have a proven history of providing value engineering support and supplying engineered solutions to customers in the most demanding applications. Flex Circuits manufactured by Tech-Etch can be found in Medical, Implantable, Telecommunications, Industrial, and other high reliability Electronics applications. FLEXIBLE CIRCUIT SPECIALTY PROCESSING Polyimide Etching By using our unique polyimide...
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A TOTAL CAPABILITY World Technology Leader Tech-Etch manufactures precision parts for the electronic, telecommunications, measurement and control, and medical device and equipment industries. Using the latest etching, metal fabrication and metal finishing equipment, Tech-Etch specializes in photo etching, forming and laminating engineered components, in addition to flexible circuits. The company has a long history of technological innovation, quality products, excellent customer service, and growth. From its beginnings as a research firm in 1964, Tech-Etch has expanded its product offerings,...
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