PCB Bend Radius Calculator
Calculate minimum bend radius for flexible and rigid-flex PCBs.
Calculation Results:
Bend Radius Analysis:
About PCB Bend Radius Calculator:
This calculator helps determine the minimum safe bend radius for flexible and rigid-flex PCBs based on material properties and design parameters. Essential for PCB design and PCB layout optimization of flex circuits.
Formula Used:
- Minimum Bend Radius (R) = k × T
- Arc Length (L) = 2πR × (θ/360°)
- Where:
- k = Material factor (varies by material and bend type)
- T = Board thickness
- θ = Bend angle in degrees
Example Calculation:
For a single-layer polyimide flex PCB with:
- Board thickness (T) = 0.1mm
- Material factor (k) = 3 (static bend)
- Bend angle (θ) = 90°
Minimum Bend Radius = 3 × 0.1 = 0.3mm
Arc Length = 2π × 0.3 × (90/360) = 0.471mm
Design Guidelines:
- Dynamic bending requires larger radius than static bending
- Thicker boards need larger bend radius
- Multiple layers increase minimum bend radius
Professional PCB design and PCB layout require careful consideration of mechanical constraints, especially for flex PCB fabrication. This PCB Bend Radius Calculator is essential for flex PCB manufacturing, ensuring reliable circuit board design that meets IPC standards. For comprehensive PCB assembly and PCB prototyping, consider using our suite of PCB design tools: the PCB Trace Resistance Calculator for power integrity, PCB Via Size Calculator for multilayer PCB design, and PCB Impedance Calculator for high-speed PCB layout. Advanced PCB manufacturing requires precise differential pair impedance control and proper solder mask expansion. For thermal management in PCB assembly, use our PCB Heat Dissipation Calculator. These PCB design software tools support both rigid and flex PCB manufacturing processes.
Example PCB Design Case:
Consider a flexible PCB design for a wearable device requiring a 90-degree bend. Using polyimide material (common in flex PCB manufacturing) with 0.1mm thickness:
- Input board thickness: 0.1mm
- Select material: Polyimide
- Enter bend angle: 90°
- Choose bend type: Dynamic (for repeated flexing)
The calculator determines a minimum bend radius of 0.6mm for reliable PCB fabrication, ensuring your flex PCB design meets manufacturing requirements and maintains long-term reliability in the final PCB assembly.
