Fixtures for flex pcb assembly

[robint91]

I don't seem to find companies that provide fixtures to help to assemble flex circuits. Even the PCB fab houses don't do something like that as it would seem.

Has anyone here an idea how to mount the flex panel such that we can print our solderpast, pick and place and reflow? The panel is about 150mm x 150mm.

[SMTech]

The mid-low volume solution is to CNC your pallet using a material such as Durastone, in theory that's something you could do yourself. Its not something I've ever had to do but I did look it up once when someone suggested they might want it, there's a free ebook floating around the interwebs about flex circuits too. Her'se a UK company that designs that kind of thing https://globaldatum.co.uk/ I know there were others I have come across (one had a really obvious name but my google-fu fails me) https://kaisertech.co.uk/wave-solder-pallets also this one despite the wording I think also covers SMT as well. However the first link gives you your best search PPRC print placement reflow carrier or however that translates for local suppliers.

[Ribster]

https://www.cnczone.com/forums/glass-plastic-and-stone/17802-milling-durastone-material-using-cnc.html

Damn. Seems to be a nasty thing to cnc if you believe this guy.

don't do anything to try to get the fiber glass out of your body... take a cold shower and sleep it off.

[labnet]

We have just done a trade study on this. IF you PM me, I can send you what we have found so far.

[GerardG]

Hello Robint91,

There are some solutions for it.

What kind of PCB are you working on?
Pure flex-pcb, flex-pcb with stiffeners or a flex-rigid PCB.

Can you share a picture?

[nisma]

I nave seen printing and assembly flex using vacuum plates and for simpler things solder paste was deposit using dispenser on Pnp. Further reflow on solder plate or proto reflow with the help of top plate. Other option is to use fixture plate and then after reflow laser cut the single circuits