- #Flex circuit design software update#
- #Flex circuit design software full#
- #Flex circuit design software software#
#Flex circuit design software software#
CAM350 by DownStream Technologies does a pretty good job of importing DXF files and turning them into Gerber data, as does ASM500 by Artwork Conversion Software Inc. Some engineers take the extra step of using a DXF-to-Gerber translator and a Gerber viewer to create their own Gerber data. The flex business has an army of very talented CAM people who perform this kind of alchemy all the time. They draw the circuit outline and the traces in AutoCAD or Pro-E, then export a DXF file and send it directly to the flex proto shop that will create the Gerber files. In fact, many flex circuits are created by mechanical engineers rather than PCB designers. As a result, many flex circuits are designed using mechanical CAD programs rather than PCB CAD programs. Usually flex circuits are electrically simple but mechanically complex. So how do flex designers make these tools work? The better question is, what tools do flex designers use? This article will take a quick peek at the popular CAD tools used to create flex circuits and then look at how they fare at designing flex. Traditional PCB design tools are not easy to use for designing flex circuitry – and not just because they try to draw everything at 45-degree angles. Purchasing arrangements at this high-tier company are still in compliance with AVL but more people within their company are aware of this success and are pushing the Epec brand.When it comes to designing for flex, some tools are more adaptable. Since this time we were awarded the second build of the product. After the testing was completed Epec’s rigid-flex board still functioned properly.Įpec’s credibility has now spread throughout this company beyond the engineering team that worked with our team on this project. It withstood 100 drops and passed however, the plastic housing of the device failed after 97 drops. The concern was the joint at the flex/rigid portion of the PCB would fail when the handheld device was dropped. The finished product went for advanced testing which included a 100 drop-tests from three feet. In the project meeting, our sales representative Rich Gregorski was told that the project manager was not concerned with the cost savings but delivery and quality were paramount. Rigid-Flex Circuit Design Solution for a Medical Device Now with a functional rigid-flex PCB, customer’s project was once again moving forward. All the rigid-flex circuit boards performed when populated and power was applied. Epec delivered on time and for a better price. The design was built to Epec’s original design specifications which complied with IPC and UL specifications.
#Flex circuit design software update#
Paul Tome, our flex and rigid-flex product manager worked with the client and Epec’s engineering department to update the rigid-flex data set. The engineering team returned to Epec for assistance.
This issue ended up adding additional expenses to the client as the boards had already been manufactured and assembled. The original corporate vendor did not agree with Epec’s design changes and manufactured them to their blueprint/design.
Epec’s proposal offered a 15-20 lead time compared to the initial 6 weeks, a 20% cost savings, and increased technical support but overall it was overruled.Īfter the rigid-flex PCB’s were assembled and populated the rigid-flex boards failed and would not function. Epec supplied the client with a detailed DFM as to why their design failed to meet both IPC and UL specifications along with an explanation why the current rigid-flex circuit design would cause defects likely to impact the reliability of the client’s end product.Īlthough the client was in agreement with Epec’s proposal their corporate policy strictly outlines that they must select vendors from their Approved Vendor List (AVL). A discovery was made in the initial design indicating that it would not meet IPC and UL specifications. The data package was reviewed by Epec’s Product Managers.
#Flex circuit design software full#
Gerber data along with appropriate documentation was submitted for a full design review and quote. An engineering team within medial industry company approached Epec to manufacture a rigid-flex circuit to be placed within a medical device used in conjunction with Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
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