<pcbbend />

Overview

Use <pcbbend /> inside a <board material="flex"> to describe how the flat PCB folds in 3D. Components and routing still use the flat PCB coordinates.

The endpoints define a directed centerline through the bend zone. Looking from (x1, y1) toward (x2, y2) from the board's top, bendSide selects the side that moves. Positive bendAngle folds that side toward the local top face; negative angles fold it toward the bottom. Zero leaves the board flat.

Basic Usage

This example folds the right half of a flex board by 90 degrees. The bottom stiffener reinforces the stationary left section.

export default () => (
  <board material="flex" layers={2} width="40mm" height="20mm" thickness="0.12mm">
    <pcbbend
      name="B1"
      x1={0}
      y1={-10}
      x2={0}
      y2={10}
      bendAngle={90}
      bendRadius="2mm"
      bendSide="right"
    />
    <pcbstiffener
      name="S1"
      shape="rect"
      pcbX={-12}
      width="10mm"
      height="16mm"
      layer="bottom"
      material="fr4"
      thickness="0.4mm"
    />
    <resistor name="R1" resistance="10k" footprint="0402" pcbX={-12} />
    <resistor name="R2" resistance="10k" footprint="0402" pcbX={12} />
  </board>
)

bendRadius is measured at the neutral surface, rather than the inside surface. The developed bend-zone width is bendRadius * abs(bendAngle in radians), centered on the line. Keep components, vias, and stiffeners outside that zone.

Tear Reliefs

Set tearReliefRadius to create circular cutouts at both centerline endpoints. When the endpoints lie on the board edge, the circles form rounded relief notches. These remove material from the flat board as well as its 3D geometry. Omitting the prop leaves the outline unchanged.

export default () => (
  <board material="flex" layers={2} width="30mm" height="10mm" thickness="0.12mm">
    <pcbbend
      x1={0}
      y1={-5}
      x2={0}
      y2={5}
      bendAngle={90}
      bendRadius="2mm"
      bendSide="right"
      tearReliefRadius="0.5mm"
    />
  </board>
)

The relief radius is independent of the bend radius, side, and angle, including a zero angle. Choose it with enough remaining board material and copper clearance.

Props

Distances accept numbers in millimeters or distance strings such as "2mm".

Prop	Type	Required	Description
name	string	No	Optional bend identifier.
x1, y1	distance	Yes	Centerline start in the parent's flat PCB coordinates.
x2, y2	distance	Yes	Centerline end in the parent's flat PCB coordinates. Must differ from the start.
bendAngle	number or angle string	Yes	Finite signed angle in degrees, or a string such as "90deg". Angles are not clamped or wrapped.
bendRadius	distance	Yes	Finite positive radius at the neutral surface.
bendSide	"left" or "right"	Yes	Moving side relative to the directed centerline viewed from above.
tearReliefRadius	distance	No	Finite positive radius of each endpoint cutout. No implicit radius.

Endpoints must be finite. Parent group placement and rotation transform the centerline into board coordinates. See board for flex material and thickness settings.