Superior Design Solutions
Flexible Circuit Technologies (FCT) provides design assistance for flexible circuits, rigid-flex circuits, and related interconnect solutions. This service supports engineers and product developers in creating manufacturable, cost-effective designs that meet application requirements across industries including IoT, wearables, medical devices, automotive, and telecommunications.
Early collaboration during the design phase helps identify constraints related to materials, bend radii, layer stack-ups, and component placement. This approach reduces the number of design iterations and supports compliance with standards such as IPC-2223 for flexible circuit design.
Expertise in Flex and Rigid-Flex Circuit Design
FCT maintains a team with extensive experience in flex circuit design. Mark Finstad, Director of Application Engineering, serves as Vice-Chair of the IPC Flexible Circuits Committee, Chairman of the IPC-2223 Flexible Circuit Design Committee, and an active participant in related IPC standards committees (IPC-6013, IPC-4202, IPC-4203, IPC-4204).
Senior application engineers and CAD specialists each bring more than 25 years of experience in flex and rigid-flex applications.
“Knowing what won’t work or doesn’t work is every bit as important as knowing what will.” — Mark Finstad, Director of Application Engineering, Flexible Circuit Technologies
Benefits of Design Assistance for Flexible Circuits
- Reduced Design Revisions — Early input on conductor routing, spacing, shielding, and final finishes minimizes changes during prototyping and production.
- Cost Optimization — Adjustments to layout, material selection, and stack-up can yield savings of 10-20% or more compared to piece-price reductions alone, particularly when total program costs are considered.
- Improved Manufacturability — Designs incorporate DFM (Design for Manufacturing) principles specific to flexible circuits, including bend radius guidelines and strain relief features.
- Faster Time to Market — Fewer iterations accelerate prototyping and qualification.
The most significant cost reductions occur during the initial design phase rather than later manufacturing stages.
Key Considerations for Flexible Circuit Design
- Dimensional constraints and required flexibility (dynamic vs. static bend).
- Conductor routing, trace width/spacing, and impedance control needs.
- Component placement, soldering methods, and pad designs.
- Surface finishes (e.g., ENIG, OSP) and coverlay requirements.
- Shielding or EMI protection specifications.
- Environmental factors such as temperature range, vibration, and chemical exposure.
Frequently Asked Questions
Design assistance involves consultation on layout, material selection, stack-up configuration, DFM review, and optimization for cost and performance in flexible and rigid-flex circuits.
Early involvement identifies potential fabrication issues, reduces revisions, and supports more cost-effective solutions compared to changes made during production.
The team is led by Mark Finstad and includes senior engineers and CAD specialists, each with over 25 years of experience. Leadership includes active roles in IPC flexible circuits standards development.
Support during the design phase often leads to greater overall savings than focusing solely on unit pricing, by minimizing iterations and optimizing manufacturability.
Contact Flexible Circuit Technologies to discuss your flex circuit or rigid-flex design requirements. Submit a request via the quote form or reach out directly for application engineering support.