PCB Design for Rigid-Flex Boards

This course provides the skills necessary to effectively implement designs requiring flex and rigid-flex circuits in accordance with product requirements. The class also focuses on the impact of these designs on manufacturing and assembly techniques, documentation, and manufacturing file generation. 

Taught by an IPC-certified industry expert with 25+ years of experience in the field, the six-week program utilizes interactive webinars, on-demand recorded class sessions, job-specific exercises, and team projects to facilitate mastery of the key concepts required to design flex and rigid-flex boards.

Upon completion, participants will be able to:  

  • Design flexible / rigid-flex board designs.
  • Understand the trade-off of flexible PCB materials.
  • Define a board stack up that implements flexible and rigid-flex structures.
  • Import and/or define board outline geometry for complex flexible board shapes.
  • Understand and mitigate signal integrity issues with flexible circuits.
  • Understand and define the effects of mechanical retention on flexible substrates.
  • Define and implement component packaging methodologies to mitigate the effects of bending on component stresses.
  • Understand and mitigate the effects of bending stresses on conductive patterns in flexible circuits.



PCB Design for Rigid-Flex Boards is accredited by the ANSI National Accreditation Board. 

ANSI National Accreditation Board Logo reverse 150W

 

Member Price
$1,600.00
Non-member Price
$2,000.00
Access
90 Days From Enrollment
Class Schedule

  • Course Level: Advanced

  • Training Time

    6 weeks (12 two-hour online instructor-led sessions)

  • Certificate of Completion

  • Seasonal Enrollment

    Access for 90 Days

Questions

Need to know more? Send us your questions and we'll get you an answer.

Download a PDF of the syllabus

All virtual class sessions are recorded for review. The instructional content of the course is design software independent. During the course's hands-on part, the instructor will use the Altium design tool to demonstrate concepts and methodologies. Students are free to use the software they choose to submit their work. For students who do not have access to a design software program, IPC will provide a 1-year subscription to Altium Designer.

Week 1: Basic Flexible Circuit Design

  • Key differences between rigid and rigid-flex design
  • Single layer flexible circuit design
  • IPC-2223 standard
  • Design simple single layer flex board
  • Define bend location and radius

Week 2: Advanced Flexible Circuit Design

  • Stackup design
  • Component support / stiffeners
  • PTH issues with flex
  • Circuit layout / panel utilization
  • Rigid-flex design
  • IPC standards
  • Design multi-layer rigid-flex design
  • Define bend locations and radius
  • Define stackup and stackup zones

Week 3: Flexible Materials

  • Key concepts include:
  • What materials are used in flex / rigid-flex
  • How to define
  • Physical and mechanical properties
  • Trade-offs in different material types
  • Define different stackups for signal integrity, dynamic flex, flex to install, single fold

Week 4: Manufacturing Process 

  • Manufacturing process used in flex and rigid-flex designs
  • Fabrication allowances and impact on design
  • Assembly challenges and mitigation with flexible materials 
  • Design an assembly array for a multi-segment rigid-flex design
  • Define rail attachment feature and removal method
  • Optimize for best panel utilization

Week 5: Documentation

  • Produce proper documentation in compliance with IPC standards for flex and rigid-flex designs
  • IPC-2610 series.
  • IPC-D-325.
  • IPC-J-STD-001
  • Datum and reference challenges with flex and rigid-flex designs
  • Documentation methodology
  • Special feature call outs
  • Create documentation package
  • Define special requirements 

Week 6: Content Review and Final Exam

  • Content review and final exam

PCB Design for Flex & Rigid-Flex Boards This course is ideal for designers, engineers, technicians, and other individuals who want to develop the skills required to create flex and rigid-flex designs.

IPC strongly recommends that potential students complete the IPC Introduction to PCB Design I & II courses OR possess a solid foundation in electrical theory, be able to use PCB design software, and have familiarity with:

  • Schematic symbol creation 
  • Schematic generation 
  • Documentation and dimensioning 
  • Standard rigid printed board design 
  • Printed board manufacturing 
  • Printed board assembly 
  • Basics of signal integrity 

IPC offers different instructional modalities to suit participants with different needs and preferences. This program is available in the following modality:

Online-instructor-led: Participants go online to meet with an IPC-certified industry expert at a fixed time twice per week for the duration of the course. Class sessions are usually 1.5 to 2 hours. Participants can also access a video recording of each class session on their IPC EDGE course dashboard.

Completion of the program with a score of 70% or higher on the final exam and/or final project is required to earn a certificate of completion and 24 Professional Development Hours (PDHs).

Review IPC Workforce Training policies and procedures documents including the grievance and appeal forms.

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