Inventor 2019: How to create a flexible rigid flex in a PCB assembly

[fred.hillhouse]

Greetings,

I have a rigid flex PCB assembly that was created in PCB Editor and exported as a STP. The export has the PCBs all on the same plane. But, that is rarely how it is actually used.

Is it possible to make the rigid flex section flexible so it can be bent around a corner for assembly?

The goal would be to place (constrain) one rigid section and specify a radius over a section of the flex and then constrain the other sections of rigid.

Thanks!

Best regards,

Fred

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@fred.hillhouse,

marius.gildehaus has edited your subject line for clarity
Original: PCB, rigid flex

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[Mark.Lancaster]

@fred.hillhouse

A step file when imported in to Inventor is a dumb solid without any parametric information.  At that point, most likely you would have to direct edit the model to accomplish stuff.  You may want to provide what you require (like screenshots) instead of just words so we can understand what you're trying to accomplish.  Inventor version too?

[marius.gildehaus]

Hello @fred.hillhouse!

Like @Mark.Lancaster said pictures or even better a dataset would be great. 

Thanks!

[fred.hillhouse]

Greetings,

Inventor Pro 2019

This is a view of the basic PCB. You can see I figured out how to add a bend. But it inspires another question.

It would be nice to constrain the two pieces of rigid PCB and let the flex section bend as necessary. It could be a simple bend or even s-shaped. Is this possible?

I was able to constrain the small rigid and play with the bend to get the main body close but it took many iterations.

Thanks!

Fred

[kelly.young]

Hello @fred.hillhouse there are many ways to go about what you are trying to accomplish.

One way would be to create three individual solid parts from the step file and then create a flexible assembly that will be driven by parameters of the middle part. 

If you can attach your part for community members to show you instructions that would be helpful. 

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.

[fred.hillhouse]

Here is a part (.ipt). I don't have an actually STP from our PCB software yet (not that it should matter). This was quickly modeled for a housing that used the same PCB in a straight configuration.

Thanks!

Fred

[kelly.young]

@fred.hillhouse Thanks for attaching an example part. The easiest way would be to just bend the part along a defined line within the part. 

If you want it to interact with other parts you will have to create an individual part for the rectangle and tab. A third part being adaptive/flexible that is connecting the two will update depending on how other parts move their locations.

Without the context of the assembly that is driving it there is difficulty giving more accurate advice.

Please select the Accept as Solution button if a post solves your issue or answers your question.