Choose a worksheet
Start with the unresolved decision
Use the material worksheet when assembly exposure, operating environment, and electrical priorities need to be reconciled. It helps form a shortlist of questions about exact grades. A material family can contain several constructions, so retain the proposed grade and datasheet revision beside the operating conditions that motivated it.
Use the thickness worksheet to add nominal layers for a particular region. Treat a terminal, unsupported span, and reinforced component area as separate calculations when their layers differ. Include adhesive and coverlay rather than copying only the copper and base-film values from CAD. A nominal sum is different from a guaranteed finished tolerance.
Match the worksheet to its useful output
| Worksheet | Useful output | Review still required |
|---|---|---|
| Material selection | A shortlist and unanswered grade questions | Exact material, process compatibility and qualification |
| Regional thickness | Nominal construction total with units | Finished thickness and tolerances |
| Bend planning | Defined radius geometry and missing inputs | Representative mechanical validation |
| Quote readiness | Portable project requirement text | Manufacturing review and commercial quotation |
Describe bends without promising life
The bend worksheet records thickness, radius definition, bend angle, and duty. Inside radius and centerline radius describe different geometric surfaces. Keep the selected definition visible when passing a result to mechanical design. A circular-arc sketch is useful for initial packaging, while a sliding loop or constrained hinge may need a more detailed model.
Geometry cannot supply a qualified cycle count. A moving assembly also depends on material, copper construction, load path, fixtures, environment, and the actual trajectory. Use the worksheet to expose missing inputs and attach a representative test plan. Revisit the record whenever a support edge or local stack changes.
Turn assumptions into a portable brief
The quote readiness builder collects construction, quantity, delivery target, assembly, and test information into a plain-text brief. Review that text before sending it through your chosen inquiry channel. These browser tools do not automatically transmit project entries; saving a download produces a local file that you control.
Keep a dated copy of the input assumptions with each result. When alternatives are compared, change one decision at a time and label the resulting records clearly. This makes a design discussion easier to audit than an isolated screenshot containing an unexplained total or selected material name.
Before you release the design
- Check the units before copying a result into a drawing.
- Name the exact region and construction revision being evaluated.
- Replace illustrative defaults with reviewed project inputs.
- Keep the downloaded brief with its referenced drawings and file manifest.
Watch points
- A numerical output can be precise while its input assumptions remain uncertain.
- Changing a laminate alone does not qualify the rest of an interconnect.
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Practical questions
Can I use the thickness total as a connector tolerance?
Use it to construct the nominal stack, then review each contribution and the finished mating requirement. The connector's acceptance depends on the actual local construction and tolerances.
Will these tools quote a price or predict bend life?
No. They organize engineering inputs and simple geometry. Pricing follows a reviewed RFQ, and moving-service performance needs representative testing under defined conditions.
Technical references
References support the material or design context. Check the exact grade, part number, document revision and project conditions before release.Updated 27 September 2026 · Technical content policy · Engineering guidance supports project review; the agreed drawing defines the build.