Flexible PCB's cost??

[Christopher Cole]

You can expect 3-5 times the cost for a flex circuit over a PCB. YMMV.
This is for 2 sided w/solder mask (for PCB) and cover layer (for flex).
I have had great experience with MetroCircuits - they have a 3 day
turnaround time and they accept small proto runs. Talk to Jim Botcher.

Look into the difference between Kapton and Mylar for your application.

BTW, another company, Advanced Electrocircuits Corp, has a great deal
right now on PCB fab: 5 boards in 5 days for $350! This is for 2 sided
PCB _with_ silkscreen and solder mask. I just submitted my design files
to them so I cannot vouch for their quality yet, but I have heard they
are very good.

Take care,
-Chris

 

[Spehro Pefhany]

You can expect 3-5 times the cost for a flex circuit over a PCB. YMMV.
This is for 2 sided w/solder mask (for PCB) and cover layer (for flex).
I have had great experience with MetroCircuits - they have a 3 day
turnaround time and they accept small proto runs. Talk to Jim Botcher.

Look into the difference between Kapton and Mylar for your application.

BTW, another company, Advanced Electrocircuits Corp, has a great deal
right now on PCB fab: 5 boards in 5 days for $350! This is for 2 sided
PCB _with_ silkscreen and solder mask. I just submitted my design files
to them so I cannot vouch for their quality yet, but I have heard they
are very good.

There are a lot of really good deals these days on proto two-sided
boards with SM and silk-screen. Multilayer, too, but there are fewer
suppliers.

It's been a while since I've gotten quotes for flex or flex-rigid
boards, but the last time the cost was rather high for tooling
(thousands of dollars). Using lasers and such like, probably smaller
quantities can be made for much higher unit prices, but much less
tooling cost, from US and Canadian suppliers. Polyimide is not cheap
if you need that (and you probably do if soldering is involved).

Best regards,
Spehro Pefhany

 

[N. Thornton]

Hi

Just mentioning there is one other maybe, and thats a very thin
version of ordinary PCB material. Its semi flexible, not as much as
mylar etc.

And if its just for a short term display Id consider a piece of card
with copper wires on it, threaded thru holes. But not of course if you
plan to do 100,000 miles in it.


Regards, NT