Hi Scott!

We build a board that's a rigid-flex and has two small boards aside from
the main assembly that we separate. Take a look at:

http://stevezeva.homestead.com/files/Rigid_Flex.jpg

The two small boards along the bottom edge are removed along with the
main assembly after everything is built. We don't snap them out though,
we actually use a "nibbler" from Fancourt. Basically a hook shaped blade
that comes down and shears the tabs that holds everything in the panel.
This panel also has perforated tabs and I think that's a good thing.
Polyimide is very brittle as you probably know, and the drilled
perforations keep most all of the cracks that occur during singulation
from penetrating inwards towards the PCB.

-Steve Gregory-

-----Original Message-----
From: DesignerCouncil [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Scott Riley
Sent: Monday, January 08, 2007 10:31 AM
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: [DC] Rigid flex "snap off"

I've got a 6 layer rigid flex design with the rigid portions being on
each end and two flex layers joining them (picture a barbell).  The
customer wants an additional board attached to one of the rigid portions
that will be "snapped off" at a later time. There is no circuitry
running between these two pieces. 

 

I'm not sure how well the polyimide that is sandwiched between the FR4
is going to "snap off".  I told the customer that it is made to flex and
will most likely remain connected. I'm thinking about making perforated
breakaway tabs, but think the flex material may still need to be cut
somehow.  The boards would be assembled prior to separation. 

 

Does anyone have any experience with something like this ?  This is for
development and would not be used in production, quantities would be
very small.  


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