Flexible printed circuit boards (PCBs) are a type of electronic interconnection that is growing in popularity. This approach to connecting components in a circuit offers design options and more robustness. Also referred to as flexible electronics, flexible circuit boards, flexible printed circuits (FPCs), or flex circuits, the conducting paths of the circuit are built on a flexible plastic substrate — usually made of polyimide, PEEK, or polyester — and the components are soldered to exposed copper pads.

What is Flexible PCB?

A flexible printed circuit board (Flex PCB or FPC) is a type of circuit board made with a flexible substrate, allowing it to bend, fold, and twist without breaking the electrical connections. This contrasts with rigid PCBs, which are inflexible. Flex PCBs are used in various applications, including consumer electronics, medical devices, and automotive systems, where space constraints, movement, or vibration are factors.

Flexible PCB / FPCB Applications

The flexible printed circuit boards can be used for dynamic flexing, as well as static applications. For static applications, the circuit board is designed for minimum flexing. The circuit is only flexed during the installation. Dynamic flexible circuit boards are designed for regular flexing. Some common applications of these circuit boards include printers, flip-type cell phones, robots, and so on.

Flexible circuit boards are widely used in applications that demand high accuracy and regular flexing. Some popular examples include: