Flex PCB Cost Factor Analysis

No matter just how wonderful the technology, if it could not meet expense targets, it is unlikely that it will certainly have broad appeal and gain wider acceptance. Since i Fast PCB is so diverse in flex PCB construction and products, the matter of expense is not a very easy based on deal with. There are some generalized methods offered to evaluate whether or not the technology agrees with.
It has to be assumed that there is a break-even factor someplace as volume boosts and also one modern technology goes beyond another.
The concept can be effortlessly imagined as well as is illustrated in complying with table

The break-even decision chart discovered in complying with table additionally offers as an example of how a potential individual could establish the amount of flex PCB that must be developed to balance out the expense of tooling up for flex PCB manufacturing. The example assumes that the flex PCB will certainly change a cord harness, yet various other modern technologies with various elements could be placed instead of the cord harness.

When looking at cost, it is very important to keep in mind the many advantages flexible circuits supply. In some instances the flex PCB may be more expensive than the alternative in the door, but in the final evaluation as well as at the system level, the ultimate price is much reduced. Flex PCB commonly show to be an allowing, value-add innovation that can decrease the total price of an electronic system. Absence of admiration of the cost-in/cost-out standard has foiled the initiatives of lots of price-conscious circuit purchasers in the past as well as is a way of thinking to prevent.

While flex PCB may be more costly than some options on a cost per unit location basis, the technology’s capacity to resolve troubles in numerous locations of design as well as manufacture can offsetting the price differential in a lot of cases. Flex circuit modern technology can make digital items less complicated to create and supply greater integrity, crucial characteristics that could commonly outdo expense in enlightened manufacturing Based on the nature of flex PCB innovation, it is currently possible to write circuits directly onto polymer movies in a rollto-roll style on a continual internet. Manufacturing principles similar to this are appealing since they can ultimately make flex PCB manufacturing feasible at a cost-effective run unit of one component, an idyllic purpose of almost any type of manufacturing.
process. It now shows up that solutions such as this remain in the works as well as being assessed currently.

CALCULATING A BREAK-EVEN POINT
Break-even point = NRE (flexible) – NRE (alternative) RC (alternative) – RC (flexible)
FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS NRE
– Circuit design & artwork
– Documentation
– Mock-ups
– Hard & soft tooling

WIRE HARNESS NRE
– Wiring diagrams
– Assembly drawings
– Harness assembly board
– Potting molds

FLEXIBLE CIRCUITS RC
– Manufactured unit price
– Inspection and test
– Assembly
– Installation
– Carried inventory
– Pot wires in connector
– Install
– Test and correct errors

WIRE HARNESS RC
– Wire inventory
– Cut, strip and mark wires
– Lay out wires on boards
– Solder wires to connectorFactors:
NRE = Non Recurring Engineering RC = Recurring Costs

RECAP
Flexible circuits needs some sophisticated reasoning prior to starting a brand-new design. The modern technology provides some essential capabilities and several advantages. Nevertheless, while there are numerous current as well as possible advantages to flex PCB technology, no technology is run the risk of cost-free. Potential users have to execute their very own appropriately rigorous analysis to figure out whether making use of flex PCB in a particular scenario is useful and makes financial feeling.

While of the 13 actions outlined are considered relatively complete currently, the regular growth as well as growth of flexible circuits innovation could cause the need to magnify the steps or add new unforeseen actions to show new facts in the future.

Source from http://www.ifastpcb.com/blog/flex-pcb-cost-factor-analysis/