<pcbstiffener />

Overview

Use <pcbstiffener /> inside a board to add bonded mechanical reinforcement, for example beneath a connector or component area on a flex PCB. A stiffener does not add copper layers or define an integrated rigid-flex stackup.

layer selects the board attachment face, "top" or "bottom". thickness describes the stiffener material alone; PCB and adhesive thickness are separate.

The previews below show the bottom face so the stiffeners are visible. Click the 3D preview to inspect the model from other angles.

Rectangular Stiffener

A rectangle is centered at its placement anchor. Use pcbX, pcbY, and pcbRotation to position it in the flat layout.

export default () => (
  <board material="flex" layers={2} width="30mm" height="15mm" thickness="0.12mm">
    <pcbstiffener
      name="S1"
      shape="rect"
      pcbX={-8}
      pcbY={0}
      width="10mm"
      height="12mm"
      layer="bottom"
      material="fr4"
      thickness="0.4mm"
      adhesiveThickness="0.05mm"
    />
    <resistor name="R1" resistance="10k" footprint="0402" pcbX={-8} />
  </board>
)

Polygon Stiffener

For a custom shape, use shape="polygon" and supply local outline vertices. The outline is implicitly closed and then transformed by PCB placement and rotation. It must contain at least three finite vertices enclosing nonzero area.

export default () => (
  <board material="flex" layers={2} width="30mm" height="20mm" thickness="0.12mm">
    <pcbstiffener
      name="support"
      shape="polygon"
      pcbX={-6}
      pcbY={0}
      pcbRotation={30}
      outline={[
        { x: -5, y: -4 },
        { x: 5, y: -4 },
        { x: 5, y: 2 },
        { x: 3, y: 4 },
        { x: -5, y: 4 },
      ]}
      layer="bottom"
      material="polyimide"
      thickness="0.2mm"
    />
  </board>
)

Props

Distances accept numbers in millimeters or distance strings such as "0.4mm". Shape, attachment face, material, and thickness have no implicit defaults.

Prop	Type	Required	Description
name	string	No	Optional stiffener identifier.
shape	"rect" or "polygon"	Yes	Selects rectangle dimensions or a custom outline.
layer	"top" or "bottom"	Yes	Board attachment face.
material	"fr4", "polyimide", "stainless_steel", or "aluminum"	Yes	Stiffener material.
thickness	distance	Yes	Finite positive material thickness, excluding PCB and adhesive.
adhesiveThickness	distance	No	Finite nonnegative adhesive thickness. Omission means unspecified, not zero.
width, height	distance	For rectangles	Finite positive dimensions. Do not supply for polygons.
outline	array of { x, y } distances	For polygons	Local vertices, implicitly closed. Do not supply for rectangles.
pcbX, pcbY	distance	No	PCB placement coordinates.
pcbRotation	number or angle string	No	Rotation in degrees, or a string such as "30deg".

Stiffeners also accept the shared PCB layout props. Keep reinforcement outside the bend zone when combining it with pcbbend. See board for the flex substrate and PCB thickness.