Compared to traditional wired circuits, PCBs offer a number of advantages. Their small and lightweight design is appropriate for use in many modern devices, while their reliability and ease of maintenance suit them for integration in complex systems. Additionally, their low cost of production makes them a highly cost-effective option.These qualities are some of the reasons PCBs find application across industries, including within the following markets:

Medical

Medical electronics have significantly benefited from the introduction of PCBs. The electronics in computers, imaging systems, MRI machines and radiation equipment all continue to advance in technology from the electronic capability in PCB’s.The thinner and smaller size of flexible and rigid flex PCBs allows for the manufacture of more compact and lightweight medical devices, such as hearing aids, pacemakers, implantable devices, and truly tiny cameras for minimally invasive procedures. Rigid-flex PCBs are a particularly ideal solution when looking to decrease the size of complex medical devices, as they eliminate the need for the flex cables and connectors that take up valuable space in more intricate systems.

Aerospace

Rigid, flexible and rigid flex PCBs are commonly employed in the aerospace industry for instrument panels, dashboards, flight controls, flight management and safety systems. The growing number of advances in aerospace technology have increased the need for smaller, more complex PCBs for use in aircraft, satellites, drones, and other aerospace electronics. Flexible and rigid flex circuits offer exceptional durability and mission survivability due to the elimination of connectors.  This makes them suitable for use in high-vibration applications, while their small and lightweight design reduces the overall equipment weight and, consequently, fuel consumption requirements. For applications where dependability is paramount, they serve as a highly reliable solution.

Military

In the military sector, PCB’s are used in equipment frequently exposed to heavy impact, shock and vibration applications, such as military vehicles, ruggedized computers, modern weapons, and electronics systems (e.g., robotics, guidance, and targeting systems). As military technology advances to meet changing customer demand, more equipment integrates advanced computerized technology, requiring both the electrical and mechanical performance that is inherent in flex and rigid flex packaging. These types of electronic packaging can withstand thousands of pounds of g-force without failure.

Industrial and Commercial

The use of PCBs in industrial and commercial electronics has revolutionized everything from manufacturing to Supply Chain management – increasing information, automation and efficiency. In general, they are a reliable means of directing equipment in increasingly automated facilities, enhancing production while decreasing labor costs. Flexible and rigid flex PCB’s enable manufacturers to produce increasingly smaller and lighter products with greater functionality and much higher reliability, such as drones, cameras, mobile electronics, and ruggedized computers.

Custom Printed Circuit Boards

Nearly all PCBs are custom designed for their application. Whether simple single layered rigid boards, to highly complex multilayered flexible or rigid flex circuits, PCB’s are designed using special software called CAD for computer aided design.  The designer uses this software to place all of the circuits and connection points, called vias, throughout the entire board.  The software knows how each of the components need to interact with each other, and any specific requirements as well – such as how they need to be soldered to the PCB.When the designer is done, the software exports two critical components, with which we will build their boards. The first is called gerber files, which are electronic artwork files that show every single circuit in the PCB, where exactly it goes, on every single layer of the board.  The gerber files will also contain drill files, showing us where exactly to drill the holes to make all the via connections we discussed earlier.  They will also contain soldermask and nomenclature files – which are discussed later, as well as a file that shows us exactly how to cut out the perimeter of their board.All PCB designers – whether rigid, flexible, or rigid flex – use these files to communicate to PCB manufacturers exactly how they want their boards built.  They include one other item that is critical for the PCB fabricator – a fabrication print.  The fabrication print carefully details all the requirements of the boards, that are not in the gerber files. The fabrication print for example will detail what materials we are to use building their board, what size drilled holes they would like, any special manufacturing instructions or specifications we need to meet, and miscellaneous information like what color soldermask or nomenclature they would like.With these two components, we can build a custom board, that meets the customer’s requirements exactly.  As PCBs are highly customizable, they can be designed and manufactured to various flexibilities, sizes, and configurations to fit almost any application.