Joe Fjeldstad has done several courses at the PCB Design Conferences for the last few years. He knows his business and has been very highly rated by attendees. If you are interested contact me thru PCD. Pete Waddell ______________________________ Reply Separator _________________________________ Subject: Re: flex circuit design Author: [log in to unmask] at Internet Date: 5/20/96 10:15 PM Jennifer Jenkins wrote: > I am looking for information on any CAD packages (software) used for or > specific to flexible circuit design. I would appreciate any help. Hello! I was just going through some old mail, and realized that you never really received a good answer to your question (not in public, anyway) I have limited experience with flex. I have only done a few designs but I have a LOT of reference material... As far as I know, there are NO CAD packages specific to flexible circuit design, because there really isn't too much difference between rigid and flex from a computer point of view. Gerber data is Gerber data. The fabrication drawing is virtually the same, except that you will be using appropriate notes to call out different materials, and different specs or standards to be used for acceptability. If components will be mounted to the flex you may need to consider stiffeners and adhesive to provide stability, which will also have to be noted on the fab dwg. You may need the help of a mechanical package to calculate dimensions if bend radius or folding is required (most PCB layout tools aren't too hip with that third dimension). But as far as the actual layout is concerned, the same rigid-board layout tools will work just fine as long as you understand the rules. Rules like "keep the trace routing perpendicular to the bend", "no vias in a continuous flex area", "stagger traces on multiple layers to reduce I-beam effect", stuff like that. You didn't really give much info in your message, so its hard to know what you were looking for. Most flex vendors have guidelines that they will cheerfully give to you (makes their life easier if you follow them), there are several excellent books on the subject (I used Ken Gilleo's "Handbook of Flexible Circuits", but I know Joe Felstad has a new one out, too), and the IPC has a few publications that might help. Flex / rigid-flex can be challenging, but I enjoy it a lot. Good Luck! Jack