Issue link: https://iconnect007.uberflip.com/i/1507356
10 DESIGN007 MAGAZINE I SEPTEMBER 2023 For this month's issue on rigid-flex design, we spoke with instructor Kris Moyer, who teaches the IPC class "PCB Design for Flex and Rigid- flex Boards." In this wide-ranging interview, Kris breaks down the hurdles facing rigid-flex designers and offers a variety of solutions for rigid board designers taking on their first rigid- flex circuits. He also provides a few horror stories to illustrate what happens if you don't follow sound design practices, rules, and standards. And, as Kris points out, "Your fabricator is your friend." Andy Shaughnessy: What are you trying to get across to the students when you're teaching rigid-flex design? What are the biggest challenges? One of the biggest concepts I want to get across to students is that there are a lot of untapped, unforeseen, intangible benefits to rigid-flex, both from a design point of view and a total cost of ownership point of view. Rigid boards are usually connected with wire harnesses or cables, and we know that wire harnesses and cables are the largest point of failure in the sys- tem. Wires and cables tend to break, especially at the solder joints or pins. If we can remove all those harnesses and integrate all of that into the structure of the board, we can vastly reduce the failure rate of our designs. If you choose to go rigid-flex, there is an ini- tial cost expenditure: added processes, time, complexity, and all of that. But let's say I have a design with three circuit boards that would An Overview of Rigid-flex Design Feature Interview by the I-Connect007 Editorial Team