Flexible PCB
Table of Contents
Y&T TECHNOLOGY · MANUFACTURING SERVICES
Custom flexible PCB manufacturing and FPC prototypes
Request a manufacturing review for a flexible circuit that must fit your enclosure, interconnect layout or bending requirement. YT Electronic supports flexible PCB fabrication and assembly planning from your design files.
- Review the layer stack-up, polyimide material, stiffeners, finish and dimensional requirements together.
- Distinguish a one-time installation bend from repeated flexing before the stack-up is accepted.
- Send fabrication data and bend requirements for a project-specific feasibility and lead-time review.
Hole dimensions and the agreed industry standard
Use IPC-2223 as the flexible and rigid-flex design framework and IPC-6013 for qualification and performance requirements. Specify the applicable revision, performance class, board construction and installation or repeated-flex use in the RFQ. The accepted requirements and any exceptions are confirmed in the quotation.
| Drawing item | Requirement to specify |
|---|---|
| Drill diameter | Identify the tool or pre-plating drill size separately from the finished hole. |
| Finished PTH | State the plated-through finished diameter, tolerance, plating requirement and applicable stack-up. |
| Finished NPTH | State the non-plated finished diameter, tolerance and clearance requirements. |
| Units and tolerances | Label every dimension in mm or mil. One mil equals 0.0254 mm. Include the tolerance rather than an unlabeled decimal. |
Minimum drill and finished-hole dimensions depend on construction, material, copper and the process route. Send tighter hole or registration requirements for an individual engineering review; acceptance is confirmed for your design.
Standards reference: IPC board design standards. Applying an agreed specification to a project is distinct from a company certification.
Flexible PCB capabilities to discuss in your RFQ
The following ranges summarize the published flex capability information on this site. Final acceptance depends on the complete stack-up, geometry, material and manufacturing review; the values are not independent guarantees for every combination.
| Item | Published range / information to confirm |
|---|---|
| Layer count | 1–8 layers; provide the complete stack-up. |
| Base material | Polyimide, including the DuPont PI / Shengyi PI materials listed in our capability information; confirm the exact grade. |
| Board thickness | 0.1–0.8 mm; specify finished thickness and tolerance. |
| Finished copper | 0.5–2 oz; confirm copper and thickness by layer. |
| Trace / space | Published minimum 3 mil / 3 mil; submit local geometry for review. |
| Finished outline | Published range 6 × 6 mm to 406 × 610 mm; confirm the manufacturing panel and outline tolerances. |
| Coverlay and stiffeners | Specify openings, thickness, material and adhesive requirements; include stiffener details where required. |
| Hole sizes | Provide finished PTH and NPTH sizes and tolerances. Minimum hole capability is confirmed by engineering for the quoted stack-up. |
Hole, trace and dimension requirements should be submitted with their units and tolerances. We confirm drilling and punching feasibility from the actual fabrication package.
What to send for a flexible PCB quote
- Gerber / fabrication files and drill data, plus an outline drawing with dimensions and tolerances.
- A layer stack-up identifying copper, dielectric, adhesive, coverlay and finished thickness.
- Bend locations, required bend radius and whether the circuit is flexed during installation or repeatedly in use.
- Stiffener drawings, connector areas, component areas and any keep-out or reinforcement requirements.
- Surface finish, quantity, intended application, inspection requirements and requested delivery date.
- BOM and placement data if you also need component sourcing or assembly.
If you are still selecting a stack-up, identify the required electrical and mechanical constraints. Material choice and local reinforcement can affect flexibility, connector fit and assembly handling, so they should be reviewed together.
Choose flex or rigid-flex for the right reason
A flexible circuit can connect areas of a product where a conventional rigid board or cable arrangement is difficult to package. A rigid-flex construction combines rigid board areas with flexible interconnections. The choice depends on component support, interconnection density, assembly handling and bending requirements.
Compare our rigid-flex PCB service when you need rigid component areas integrated with flexible sections. For the difference between cable assemblies and etched flex circuits, read FFC vs FPC design considerations.
Manufacturing review and assembly planning
- Review the construction: Confirm layer count, material, copper, coverlay and stiffeners.
- Check local geometry: Review bend areas, transitions, holes, outlines and connector interfaces.
- Agree acceptance requirements: Identify inspection, electrical test, documentation and packaging needs.
- Confirm production scope: Approve the fabrication quote and any assembly, sourcing or test work.
For an assembled flexible circuit, include component locations and identify the areas that need support during processing. Soldering, fixture and test requirements are confirmed for the individual project. See prototype PCB assembly for an initial build, or turnkey assembly for sourcing and assembly coordination.
Flexible PCB delivery and purchasing questions
What determines the fabrication lead time?
Layer count, material availability, coverlay, stiffeners, processing requirements, quantity and engineering approval determine the quoted fabrication schedule. Confirm the exact bare-board lead time in your flex quotation.
Does the PCB assembly schedule also apply to bare flex fabrication?
No. Bare-board fabrication is quoted for the flex construction. For accepted assembly orders, Standard PCB assembly is completed within 20 days after receipt of deposit. Expedited assembly is available within 3 days after receipt of deposit for accepted rush projects. The expedited schedule, material availability and test scope are confirmed in your quotation.
Can I use the published minimums directly as design rules?
Submit the complete design for review. Minimum dimensions may not be available together for all stack-ups, materials or bend conditions.
Can you review a flex prototype before a repeat order?
Send the approved revision, intended bend conditions and any evaluation findings. Identify changes before the next build is quoted.
Contact us
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