Flex circuits: the what, where & why

Flex circuits are known by many names including flex boards, flex PCBs, flexible circuit boards, flexible printed circuit boards and, more officially, flexible electronics. You may think of flex circuits as a product that you buy—which is true. But more formally the term flex circuit refers to the type of technology which allows for the mounting of electronic devices and circuits on flexible substrates. Simply put, a flex circuit is a flexible computer board.

Flex circuits offer the same advantages of traditional PCBs including repeatability, reliability, and high density. Conversely, flex circuits offer flexibility and vibration resistance, both of which aren’t available on traditional PCBs. The most important attribute, however, is the capability of a flex circuit to undertake three-dimensional configurations, which is compelling designers and engineers alike to adopt flex circuit technology. Designing a flex circuit requires a slightly different approach when compared to traditional PCBs. While flex circuits may yield significant savings in manufacturing cost in addition to reduced space and less weight, their designs must be optimized for materials and applications.