Which is cost effective PCB or printed circuit film?

[SreejitS]

Hello all 

I wanted to know whether it is cost effective to go for printed circuit film as they do with keyboards(image attached) or the traditional FR4 PCB. The size would be 40cm x 40cm and would be double sided design with maximum signal frequency going up to 1 MHz.

I am talking about PCFs like shown below :
http://image.made-in-china.com/43f34j00jZSEFKhywPqH/Keyboard-Flexible-Printed-Printing-FPC-Circuit-Board.jpg

Thank you

[elecman14]

The best way to determine this would be to ask the PCB supplier you are dealing with to quote both traditional and flex (or get quotes on both designs). A pcb is a custom assembly that has a lot of factors that contribute to the cost.

[richardlawson1489]

I agree. Have you received any quotation from PCB Manufacture? If not, PM me to get it.

[Berni]

In high volume they should cost about the same, but just ordering a few prototype boards is a lot more expensive for these special flex boards. Expect to spend over 100 bucks for prototype runs.

Also the ones you have pictured might be printed on a plastic substrate that can't stand the heat of soldering so only conductive glue or contacts are needed.

[wraper]

Cost effective for what? What are you going to do?

I am talking about PCFs like shown below :
http://image.made-in-china.com/43f34j00jZSEFKhywPqH/Keyboard-Flexible-Printed-Printing-FPC-Circuit-Board.jpg

If like those, you cannot solder anything to them, those are not alternative to the PCB.
If you are talking about flex circuits (like Pyralux), they will certainly be much more expensive, especially at low quantities. Not to say you cannot simply put them into a pick and place machine and assemble like regular PCBs.

The size would be 40cm x 40cm

Extremely large size for flex circuit.

[wraper]

In high volume they should cost about the same, but just ordering a few prototype boards is a lot more expensive for these special flex boards. Expect to spend over 100 bucks for prototype runs.

Expect over $1k+ for proto. Even 40x40 cm regular PCB will cost over $100. But I guess it will cost much more and many just won't make them because of the size.

[ar__systems]

My customer was using flex circuits 38x38cm. Cost them $80/pc in volume.

[vipcircuit.com]

Actually PCB on keyboard is almost the most cheap flex board,there is not difficult to do,but if do prototype, the cost may be higher. If product medium volume,like more than 3 sq,the cost of unit  board will be
save up a lot.
Jeff from vipcircuit,thanks!