What is Rigid PCB, Construction, Working, Features & Applications

Hello, friends, I hope all of you are enjoying your life. In today’s tutorial, I am going to explain a Rigid PCB. PCB is a circuit board that uses in different engineering projects and electronic devices for circuit production, it stands for the printed circuit board. There are numerous types of this circuitry board, like single-sided, double-side, flex PCB, multilayer PCB.

In today’s post, we will have a look at a rigid printed circuit board. This category of a circuit board has very less or no flexibility in its structure as we already know that PCB exists in a single-side and double-side layout similarly rigid PCB is also available in single-sided and double-sided designs. So let’s get started with a rigid PCB.

Rigid PCB

• The rigid printed circuit board is not easy to reshape and bend due to its hard and solid structure.
• After its construction, it can reshape its design, and during its construction its shape designed properly after that it shape cannot be varied.

• For its hardness and inflexibility during its construction, a stiffener FR4 (FR stands for flame retardant) is used that increases its rigidity.
• The substrate of this board is hard and has high rigidity on this board there are numerous paths of copper are designed for the connection of different components.
• The best example of this type of printed circuit board is the motherboard of your personal computer constructed by the rigid PCB.
• If you compare the price of a rigid circuit board and flexible board then the price of the rigid board is less. It is the conventional category of printed circuit boards that are mostly used in numerous electronic devices.

Construction of Rigid PCB

• Some parts of this PCB are assembled during its construction by making a specific shape. All these parts and layers of this board are described here in detail.

• There are main four layers that exist in the structure of rigid PCB that are listed here.
  • Substrate
  • Copper Metallic Layer
  • Solder Mask Layer
  • Silkscreen layer
• The bottom layer of the rigid layer is the substrate layer over which other layers reside it is created through the use of FR4.

• Above the substrate that is created through FR4 second layer of copper, the material is placed. The copper layer is generally employed on both sides according to project arrangements and configuration over which it is used,
• To protect the copper layer there is a third layer of solder mask is placed on it.
• The fourth and last one is the silkscreen which is used to make a symbolic representation of different components that are used to make a project.

Rigid PCB Manufacturing Process

 Design

• In this step schematics of the board are made with the layout of components and a gerber file is made.

Photolithography

• Film negative or positive is made with the use of Gerber design. These films used as masks in the next steps

 Etching

• In this phase chemical solution is used to remove undesired copper parts.

Drilling

• Vias and mounting holes are made with the use of computer-controlled drilling machines to provide accurate results.

 Plating

• The electroless plating process deposits copper in holes and makes conductive traces.

Solder Mask Application

• A solder mask is a protection layer that is used through the use of screen printing or liquid film to avoid solder bridging.

Silkscreen

• This layer is applied with component marking and different symbols with the use of different design rules.

Surface Finish

• The surface finish is used for increasing soldering features and protecting the board when assembly occurs.

 Testing

• In last step, different tests such as visual inspection, flying probe testing, and automated optical inspection (AOI) are performed to find any faults on board.

CHARACTERISTICS OF RIGID PCB

• Some features of the rigid board are discussed here
• This board like the other boards such as flexible board can not be transformed into other shapes. It consists of FR4 material that increases its hardness
• For making the connection of different components on the boards there are different paths and copper traces designed.
• Rigid material is used on the substrate to enhance the rigidity and strength of the board.
• PC motherboards are created with this board.
• After the creation of this board cannot be transformed into other shapes.
• Due to being less expensive than flexible board it is used in different electronic devices.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN RIGID PCB AND FLEXIBLE PCB

• In electronic devices, a normal rigid board is used. But in some projects not used due to its nonflexible nature.
• The flexible nature of a flexible board enhances its use in projects
• The creation process of these boards is like with some differences such s flexibility, prices, and rigidity
• There are certain measures needed to handle the flexible board. With that certain features are needed to reduce damage to solder joints in case of board twist
• Expenses of flexible boards are higher than those of rigid boards.  But in the case of projects, the cost of the overall board can be higher with the use of the rigid board.
• Different devices such as sound system circuits, PC toys, and other electronic devices are created with a rigid board.
• In high-level devices such as cameras, and mobile phones GPS uses a flexible board.
• There is no combined use of these two in any projects

Advantages of Rigid PCB

• These are some advantages of printed circuit boards that are described here.
• Its price is less than the flexible printed circuit board.
• Its lifetime is larger than the flexible board.
• It provides higher quality and density.
• It is mostly used in different electronic instruments like mobile phones and computers.
• Its demand and supply are also higher.

Applications of Rigid PCB

• These are some practical applications of this printed circuit board that are described here.
• It is used in laptops and computer motherboards.
• Your cell phones, tablets, and some other portable devices consist of rigid PCBs.

• Different file servers and data storage devices also consist of rigid PCBs.
• Transmission and receiving circuitry, mobile phone signal repeaters, and GPS (Global Positioning System) also use this circuit board.
• It is also used in different industrial devices.
• With the uses of electrical and electronic instruments, it is also used in different medical devices like testing, x-ray machines, pacemakers, and CT scan machines.
• This module also employed different atomic and nuclear systems.
• It is also used in automobiles.
• In some complicated circuits, it is also used.

FAqs

Related Posts

• Aluminum PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
• Multilayer PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
• Rigid PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
• Flex PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
• High Frequency PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
• Single Sided PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
• Rigid-Flex PCB (Printed Circuit Board)
• Double sided PCB (Printed Circuit Board)

 

That is the detailed post on the rigid PCB I have mentioned each and everything related to this PCB board if you have any question about this board ask in comments. Thanks for reading. See you in the next tutorial.