Rigid-flex PCB design

Rigid-flex PCB design demands sophisticated PCB design software that can ensure first-pass success by enabling stack-up definition, including unique stack-up styles, PCB bend-areas, region rules such as vias, trace, and plane types, & design visualization in an integrated 2D/3D environment.

What is rigid-flex PCB design?

Rigid-flex PCB design is a hybrid circuit board configuration that combines both rigid and flexible materials, allowing the board to bend or flex while maintaining structural integrity and electrical connectivity.

Why is rigid-flex PCB design important?

Space efficiency

Rigid-flex design allows for three-dimensional layouts, enabling more compact and space-efficient designs compared to traditional rigid PCBs.

Reduced weight

Rigid-flex PCBs are lighter than traditional PCBs with connectors and cables, making them suitable for applications where weight is a critical factor.

Design flexibility

Rigid-flex PCBs offer greater design flexibility, allowing engineers to create shapes and configurations that were previously difficult or impossible with rigid PCBs.

Key features of rigid-flex PCB design using Xpedition

Multiple board outlines
With Xpedition, all you need to do to create a rigid-flex design is to draw the multiple board outlines and assign layer stack-up to each. Each board outline is given a name so that it can be easily identified when outlines overlap partially or completely.

Bending and folding
The key reason for making a flex design is so that it can be bent or folded. Xpedition includes a draw object, called a “bend area,” the location of which defines where the bend happens.

Route along curving boards
When you have a curving flex cable and as many signals that can fit with a tight squeeze, you need a special routing algorithm that can follow the contour of the board outline and automatically insert all the signals required. In Xpedition, all curved traces use true arc primitives.

Design Rule Checking (DRC)
Xpedition is unique in its ability to generate and maintain these dynamically and have a DRC that reports if a tear drop fails.

Signal and Power integrity analysis
Co-developed with Xpedition for analysis of flex-rigid designs, HyperLynx understands how interconnects pass different stack-up scenarios and applies proper modelling in each section. You can use this analysis to ensure a functioning design with complex stack-up.

Dive deeper into this topic

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Read more about rigid flex PCB design in our blog: Advice on tackling rigid-flex PCB designs.

Frequently asked questions about rigid-flex PCB design

Rigid-flex PCB design resources