Author Topic: Cheap, large, low-tech flex PCB  (Read 991 times)

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Offline RenateTopic starter

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Cheap, large, low-tech flex PCB
« on: January 13, 2020, 05:54:02 pm »
I'm looking to build a sensor using a flex PCB.
The size is around 75mm x 300mm (3" x 12") plus a tail.
I see plenty of options for polyimide, but it's thin and expensive.

I was looking for more the crappy stuff that they make PC keyboards out of.
That's tough, thick, translucent with tinned tracks and carbon globs. I don't need any carbon globs.
This is so low tech that if I had the single sided material I could tape out the design myself, although obviously I'd prefer somebody to knock me out a half dozen.

Does anybody have any leads on this, or even what it's called?
 

Offline jmelson

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Re: Cheap, large, low-tech flex PCB
« Reply #1 on: January 13, 2020, 08:56:38 pm »
There are devices like the Cricut, that can cut out paper and plastic for scrapbooking (a fad, at least in the US).  You can get
stuff that has copper foil stuck to vinyl plastic, cut it with the Cricut and peel the unwanted parts of the copper.
I never tried this, but was looking at this for a project for wearable LED systems.

Jon
 
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Offline artag

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Re: Cheap, large, low-tech flex PCB
« Reply #2 on: January 13, 2020, 10:23:41 pm »
I don't know the answer, though I may need something similar myself.

I intend to research FFS and FPS - those thin laminated circuits that are commonly used as ribbon cable. If I can't find a suitable one off the shelf it's possible the manufacturers will do custom pieces more cheaply than polyamide.
 

Offline dmendesf

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Re: Cheap, large, low-tech flex PCB
« Reply #3 on: January 14, 2020, 03:55:30 am »
Those are PET based:

https://www.kingleytech.com/show-66718.html

You cannot solder it because it melts.
 
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Offline RenateTopic starter

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Re: Cheap, large, low-tech flex PCB
« Reply #4 on: January 14, 2020, 04:16:36 am »
Those are PET based:
Hmm, that looks like it would be really cheap if I wanted a million.
I think the whole silkscreen bit would be expensive for a few though.
 


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