Rigid-Flex PCB

Flex and Rigid-Flex PCBs will include some degree of flexibility. This can be in the whole circuit (Flex) or a dynamic flexible join between two or more rigid boards (Rigid-Flex). The main advantage is often considered as having the ability to physically fit into products where no other solution would work but they have many other advantages.

Advantages include:

Weight reduction
Flex construction with materials such as Polyimide are much lighter than conventional substrates. Further reduction is offered by not using traditional connectors making them ideal for ‘carry’ or ‘wearable’ products.
Reduced overall costs
Using thin polyimide films allows these boards to easily fit in small packaging making product costs less. Faster assembly without as many connectors also offer lower box build costs.
Dynamic Flex
Standard Flex are only flexed at install. Dynamic Flex boards can be flexed repeatably making them suitable for laptops, robots, printers etc.
Increased product reliability
The need for traditional connectors can be removed thus increasing reliability re assembly issues or connector failures. The use of polyimide materials also aids the thermal stability of the circuits.
Ultimate use of packaging space
The circuits are thin and can be easily creased or folded and bent to fit the smallest of available spaces. They are ideal to be formed in the geometry of 3D packaging solutions where rigid boards would not fit.
High vibration or shock environments
Extremely shock resistant for high-stress environments