{"id":11591,"date":"2025-10-21T12:41:50","date_gmt":"2025-10-21T16:41:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/?p=11591"},"modified":"2026-03-27T09:48:01","modified_gmt":"2026-03-27T13:48:01","slug":"rigid-flex-pcb-design-with-xpedition-standard","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/2025\/10\/21\/rigid-flex-pcb-design-with-xpedition-standard\/","title":{"rendered":"Rigid-flex PCB design with Xpedition Standard"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>When innovation demands flexibility, and space is limited, rigid-flex PCBs make\u00a0it possible to reimagine product design across industries,\u00a0from miniaturized medical devices to next-gen automotive and aerospace systems. But success in rigid-flex design depends not just on engineering prowess, but also on the right design tools.\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/eda.sw.siemens.com\/en-US\/pcb\/xpedition\/standard\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Xpedition\u00a0Standard<\/a> brings powerful, scalable, and intuitive capabilities that help you confidently navigate the unique challenges of rigid-flex PCB design,\u00a0no matter your team\u2019s size or experience.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Why should you use rigid-flex PCBs, and why now?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Compact, lightweight, and robust,&nbsp;the core promises of rigid-flex circuits,&nbsp;are driving demand in today\u2019s electronics landscape. These boards combine the reliability and density of rigid PCBs with the mechanical versatility of flexible substrates, enabling electronics to bend, twist, and fit into the tightest spaces without connectors or reliability concerns.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Yet, designing these advanced interconnects introduces new challenges: adherence to bend&nbsp;radii, careful layer stack-up, specialized material&nbsp;selection, and rigorous data synchronization between mechanical and electrical domains. This is where&nbsp;Xpedition&nbsp;Standard stands apart,&nbsp;simplifying the complex, automating the routine, and helping you achieve first-time-right designs.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">See Xpedition Standard in action: Rigid-flex PCB design overview video<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Curious to see&nbsp;rigid-flex&nbsp;in&nbsp;Xpedition&nbsp;Standard? Watch this overview to experience:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Intuitive stack-up editor:<\/strong>\u00a0Define rigid and flexible zones with confidence.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Real-time validation:<\/strong>\u00a0Automated checks for bend radius, design\u00a0constraints, and manufacturability.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Productivity at scale:<\/strong>\u00a0Collaborate and manage data continuity,\u00a0whether\u00a0you\u2019re\u00a0a small team or scaling up.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Seamless integration:<\/strong>\u00a0Synchronize mechanical and electrical domains via MCAD-ECAD co-design.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-video is-provider-youtube wp-block-embed-youtube wp-embed-aspect-16-9 wp-has-aspect-ratio\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Rigid-flex PCB design add-on token overview\" width=\"640\" height=\"360\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/7siiqmkl1Ww?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Core rigid-flex capabilities in Xpedition Standard<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Scalable, proven workflow<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Activate rigid-flex functionality via tokens when you need it\u00a0\u2013\u00a0fully\u00a0integrated in\u00a0Xpedition\u2019s\u00a0end-to-end\u00a0flow with native\u00a0data\u00a0continuity, so\u00a0there\u2019s\u00a0no tool switching, data\u00a0translation,\u00a0or retraining.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Visual stackup zone definition<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Quickly define and visualize rigid and flex zones. Easily configure copper weights, insulation layers, adhesives, and\u00a0coverlays\u00a0in an intuitive stack-up editor.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Automated design rule checks<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Dynamic rule validation tracks bend radii, layer transitions, trace width, spacing, and\u00a0component\u00a0placement, ensuring conformance to manufacturing specs and industry best practices.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>MCAD co-design<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Bidirectional data exchange with leading mechanical CAD tools aligns team efforts and speeds up design validation, minimizing costly late-stage surprises.\u00a0Siemens\u00a0NX even allows you to\u00a0sync\u00a0up the\u00a0layer properties, variants, and more.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Real-time collaboration<\/strong>\u00a0<br>Share stack-ups, designs, and mechanical outlines with stakeholders and manufacturing partners in the cloud, supporting iterative design and faster time to market.\u00a0<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Accelerate your rigid-flex journey<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Xpedition\u00a0Standard empowers every designer,\u00a0from individual contributors to growing teams,\u00a0with premium capabilities previously reserved for enterprise\u00a0electronic systems design. By automating key aspects of the rigid-flex process,\u00a0Xpedition\u00a0Standard\u00a0helps you realize designs faster, with fewer spin cycles, and at lower cost.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Ready to take the next step?\u00a0<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>Transition from tools to techniques! Dive into Stephen Chavez\u2019s recent blog for actionable best practices on everything from bend radius management to cross-hatched planes and material\u00a0selection. Learn how industry pros ensure their rigid-flex designs are both manufacturable and reliable.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-layout-flex wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/2025\/10\/15\/mastering-the-bend-essential-tips-tricks-for-rigid-flex-pcb-design\/\">Read now: Mastering the bend<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Xpedition\u00a0Standard brings powerful capabilities that help you confidently navigate rigid-flex PCB design.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":112985,"featured_media":11593,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"spanish_translation":"","french_translation":"","german_translation":"","italian_translation":"","polish_translation":"","japanese_translation":"","chinese_translation":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17,11],"tags":[113,1730,1819,126,1773,160],"industry":[],"product":[2038],"coauthors":[2025],"class_list":["post-11591","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-tips-tricks","category-featured","tag-pcb-design","tag-pcb-design-best-practices","tag-rigid-flex-pcb","tag-rigid-flex","tag-rigid-flex-pcb-design","tag-xpedition","product-xpedition-standard"],"featured_image_url":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/65\/2025\/10\/Rigid-flex_1280x720_4.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11591","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/112985"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11591"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11591\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11654,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11591\/revisions\/11654"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11593"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11591"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11591"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11591"},{"taxonomy":"industry","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/industry?post=11591"},{"taxonomy":"product","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/product?post=11591"},{"taxonomy":"author","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.sw.siemens.com\/electronic-systems-design\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/coauthors?post=11591"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}