Flex Circuits Are Used in Military Applications
Military applications require the highest level of durability and reliability, especially in the face of extreme conditions. Defense technology must be able to resist vibration, shock, and electromagnetic interference to perform consistently in demanding environments. MV Flex Circuits offers a variety of advanced military PCBs that are specifically designed to resist these challenges, making them an essential component of defense technology.
A flex circuit is a flexible printed circuit board (PCB) with conductive traces on a thin, flexible substrate that can be bent or curved. The conductive traces connect with surface mount devices (SMDs) and other circuit components on the flex circuit. Often, these components are secured to the flex circuit with adhesive tape or an epoxy molding compound. The flex circuit also has a solder mask that protects the conductive traces from contamination.
Copper foil is the primary etching element used to create flexible circuits, and there are many different types of copper foil available in varying thicknesses. Copper’s excellent balance of cost and physical and electrical performance attributes makes it the choice for most flexible circuit applications. The foils are typically treated with a coating or laminate to improve adhesion to the base film. The copper foil is then patterned using laser imaging to create the circuit paths that will be etched, and the etched pattern is coated with soldermask.
How MV Flex Circuits Are Used in Military Applications
Unlike standard rigid PCBs, multi-layer flex circuits have three or more layers of conductors. These are often utilized in aerospace and military applications that can justify the higher cost associated with multi-layer flex circuits. Multi-layer flex circuits can be manufactured in either discontinuous or continuous construction. In the former, the layers are separated by openings occupied by plated through holes and may or may not be continuously laminated together throughout the construction. The latter, however, is more commonly used for flex circuits that are intended to be flexible and is accomplished by leaving unbonded the areas of the flex circuit that are not being used for connections.
A hybrid of standard rigid PCBs and flex circuits, rigid-flex circuits are used in military products and increasingly in commercial electronics. They are particularly well suited for high-reliability applications, as they can withstand much greater shock and vibration, as well as operate in harsh environment conditions.
The use of flex and rigid-flex circuits in military applications can help to reduce product size, weight and cost, while improving the ability of a military device to operate in a wide range of conditions. These advanced technology boards can be custom-designed to meet the specific needs of any project, optimizing space and ensuring optimal performance in demanding situations.
When your next military project calls for a flexible or rigid-flex circuit board, be sure to choose an experienced and reliable manufacturer. MV Flex Circuits offers the latest technology and equipment to produce high-quality, durable military PCBs for all your defense applications. Contact us today to get started with your order.