Switching from Conventional Wires to FPCs (part 1)

By switching wiring materials from standard electric wires to FPCs (Flexible Printed Circuits), we can offer a variety of advantages.
We would like to explain 1. Thinness, 2. Becoming Lighter, 3. Ease of Installation, 4. Flexibility in this issue.

1. Thinness

   Standard FPCs are approximately 0.1mm thick for single-sided types and 0.2mm for double-sided types, with even thinner constructions possible. In contrast, even the thinnest electronic wires are around 0.45mm in diameter, and ultra-thin coaxial cables are generally no less than 0.25mm in diameter. FPCs enable wiring even in much narrower spaces and gaps.

2. Becoming Lighter

   FPCs can bundle multiple cores within a single film, so they are dramatically lighter than equivalent electric wire assemblies. This makes them ideal parts for mobile devices, automotive, and aerospace applications. We would like to explain this benefit in more detail at another issue, once again.

3. Ease of Installation

   Wiring with traditional cables requires bundling and routing, which are labor-intensive and costly processes. FPCs gather all wiring into a single film which can be freely shaped, supporting automated assembly by robots. Even with manual installation, wiring errors are minimized, and installation and connection are easy.

4. Flexibility

   As tape- or film-like flexible substrates, FPCs can be bent or folded to follow the shape of enclosures. They are highly flexible when bent along the surface (front and back), but bending across the width (side-to-side) is more difficult.