PCB meets material requirements of motorcycle sports

In electronic systems, joints are particularly vulnerable to the effects of impacts or load changes. Soldered wire connections break easily, which leads to contact failure or even the entire loss of function. “This is where our rigid-flex printed circuit boards succeed“, explains Andreas Schilpp, Product Manager, Würth Elektronik. “Instead of complex wiring that need lots of space and are prone to failure, a flexible sheet of polyimide is used as the connection between the rigid parts.”

Getting products ready for series production depends on a crucial early stage: the joint development of new products with the end customer and developer. A transfer from prototypes into series is not always guaranteed.“In the development phase, we require only a small number of these specific boards. Large numbers do not come into play. At first, it seems as if rigid-flex printed circuit boards are more expensive than the classic version with cable or connectors. However the initial investment in the new technology pays for itself quickly, as system costs are reduced for small parts such as connectors and cables. Perhaps, more importantly, the improved testability, high reliability and functional safety further help to outweigh the start costs“, says Jürgen Kintopp, Managing Director, GCD-PCB-Design.