Rigid PCBs

Rigid PCBs are composed of copper traces laminated onto a base material, which is made of a rigid fiberglass substrate. Above the copper is a solder mask layer which acts as insulation. On top of the solder mask layer is a silkscreen layer on which characters and symbols can be imprinted.

Rigid PCBs can not be bent or twisted because they incorporate an FR4 stiffener—a fire-resistant matrix of fiberglass and epoxy—to increase rigidity. 

What Are Rigid PCBs Used For?

Rigid PCBs have a number of uses. A computer motherboard is one such application; toys, LED lights, automotive dashboards, vending machines, desktop devices, HVAC systems, GPS technologies and solid state devices are also places you’ll likely encounter rigid PCBs.

How Complex Are Rigid PCBs? 

Single-sided rigid PCBs are ideal because they are simple and easy to manufacture. They are well-suited for rapid production requirements. 

Double-sided rigid PCBs are an industry standard. They are very similar to single-sided rigid PCBs, except that they have copper traces on both sides. The circuits on one side of the board connect to circuits on the other side using through-hole technology and/or surface-mount technology. 

Multilayer PCBs have more than two conductive layers, each separated by insulation. These boards allow for complex designs. The extra layers can help prevent electromagnetic interference generated from the device. 

To get started with your rigid PCB project, contact Via Technology today!