marvincooper
Mechanical
- Jan 27, 2009
- 13
I have just started on a project where I will need to produce a flexible (probably silicone) housing around a flexi-rigid PCB, a lithium battery, LCD and a button.
The product is highly cosmetic and worn next to the skin. The housing needs to hermetically seal the electronics.
I am looking into manufacturing methods and could use some advice please!
Current thinking is this:
Encapsulate the electronics assembly, including the battery and display. This would be potentially be by low-pressure injection moulding with a flexible resin. I am not sure how compatible the flexi part of the PCBA will be to this process, what considerations I need to be aware of?
The encapsulation will also include 2 rigid plastic parts which will form part of the housing.
The encapsulated sub-assembly will then be over-molded with silicon (or similar flexible resin) to provide the cosmetic finish.
My questions are –
1. Can you encapsulate a flexible PCB and retain flexibility?
2. What pitfalls are there?
3. What alternative approaches should I consider?
4. What suppliers have experience of this kind of product and construction?
Any advice much appreciated.
The product is highly cosmetic and worn next to the skin. The housing needs to hermetically seal the electronics.
I am looking into manufacturing methods and could use some advice please!
Current thinking is this:
Encapsulate the electronics assembly, including the battery and display. This would be potentially be by low-pressure injection moulding with a flexible resin. I am not sure how compatible the flexi part of the PCBA will be to this process, what considerations I need to be aware of?
The encapsulation will also include 2 rigid plastic parts which will form part of the housing.
The encapsulated sub-assembly will then be over-molded with silicon (or similar flexible resin) to provide the cosmetic finish.
My questions are –
1. Can you encapsulate a flexible PCB and retain flexibility?
2. What pitfalls are there?
3. What alternative approaches should I consider?
4. What suppliers have experience of this kind of product and construction?
Any advice much appreciated.