1. RTR (Reel to Reel) continuous tape
In the 1980s, a small number of large FPC flexible circuit board manufacturers in the world began to build RTR production lines. Due to the immature process technology used at the time, the yield of FPC products produced on the RTR production line was very low. In the late 1990s, due to the expansion of the TAB and COF markets and the initial maturity of RTR technology, in the production of TAB and COF FPC, the superiority of this continuous production of FPC equipment and processes began to be realized. By the beginning of the 21st century, the technological development of RPC production of FPC has been relatively mature.
The advantage of RTR: no need for the operator to attach the FPC to the fixture and other related work processes. Avoid FPC creases and scratches. If the post-process is to be a product with high requirements for dust-free environment such as FOG and NCP, it can avoid the pollution of personnel and the environment. Simplify packaging, shipping and working conditions. It can meet the process requirements of ultra-thin, high-end FPC COF.
Disadvantages of RTR: The degree of specialization of production line equipment is high, and the range of applicable products is narrow. RTR production equipment is expensive to invest. Suitable for ultra-large quantities of FPC production. Not suitable for production mode of multiple varieties and small batches.
2. Fixture attachment
The focus of the fixture attachment production method is the attachment and fixing of the FPC. The purpose of the FPC attachment is to use the fixture to turn the FPC into a "PCB" so that the FPC can perform SMT like a "PCB." Compared to the REEL TO REEL continuous tape-reel type, the fixture attachment method is low in cost and easy to use, so the use of fixtures for FPC SMT is currently the most commonly used method in the industry.
Explain whether to use the FPC flexible circuit board / FPC soft board judgment standard
When preparing a FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board as a line, it is necessary to consider not only the function of the printed circuit board of the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board but also the function equivalent to a connector or a wire. Therefore, it is necessary to discuss the following three comparisons to decide whether to use the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board.
First, the price comparison
Although the price of FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board and RPC is relatively simple, of course, FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board is more expensive, but FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board can be equipped with connector, wire and solder at the same time. After the process, the labor and cost of the assembly process can be omitted, and the total cost may not be too different. Therefore, the cost calculation will vary depending on the shape of the product, the location of the part, and the wiring structure. If only the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board and the RPC are separately compared, the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board is indeed expensive. That is, FPC flexible circuit board / FPC soft board ≥ RPC
FPC flexible circuit boards/FPC flexible boards are known to eliminate the cost of connectors and wires. Therefore, the fee can be added to the RPC part, but it is still cheaper than the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board. which is
FPC flexible circuit board / FPC soft board > RPC + connector + wire
However, if you consider the cost of soldering and assembly engineering saved by the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC flexible board, the cost of the two may not be far behind. If the re-test takes into account the miniaturization, light weight and high reliability of the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board, the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board is worthy of adoption. However, it is worth noting that the assembly processing cost of the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board varies depending on the shape or the device of the part, so it is possible that the cost of the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board is relatively high, that is,
FPC flexible circuit board / FPC soft board + processing fee ≈ RPC connector + wire category + processing fee
Under the above-mentioned various costs, it can be found that the cost of the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC flexible board is relatively low, and it is not enough to consider only the price of the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board itself.
Second, the functional comparison
When actually using it, the price problem is rarely considered, and the functional problem is mainly considered.
1) Pay attention to the weight and volume of the machine first. If the wiring space is too narrow, you cannot wire it with RPC.
2) If the movable part such as the print head or the magnetic head is wired with the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board, reliability is required strictly.
Third, the comparison of reliability
The use of FPC flexible circuit boards / FPC soft boards can greatly reduce the possibility of poor wiring and contact performance, and also improve the reliability of these aspects. However, the reliability is difficult to measure by price. Therefore, it is rarely practical to use the FPC flexible circuit board/FPC soft board for reasons of improving reliability. Conversely, the use of FPC flexible circuit boards/FPC soft boards has difficulty in automated assembly and must rely on manual work, which may cause errors or omissions in the operation. In general, the use of FPC flexible circuit boards/FPC soft boards still has high reliability.
