How do you strip/reinforce/solder FFC - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / projects

author: Sailor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2015, 01:31:40 pm
content: The title says it all. If you want to solder (not just place a connector) a FFC to a pcb, what tools, accessories, techniques are available for doing it in the home workshop?

author: tggzzz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 04, 2015, 03:25:43 pm
content: My experiences athttps://entertaininghacks.wordpress.com/category/homebrew-pcbs/especially the "assembling" page.

author: Sailor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2015, 10:18:18 am
content: Err, ok, thanks. But I don't see anything related to stripping/soldering flexible flat cable (flush to the pcb).Of course, I only had a boy's look

author: Pjotr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2015, 11:19:11 am
content: You do not strip FFC/FPC flat cable yourself, you buy them in pre stripped lengths. And use ZIF connectors on the board, you don't solder them directly onto the board. If you want to do that, hmm...., good luck

author: Rasz
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2015, 12:22:28 pm
content: Quote from: Pjotr on July 05, 2015, 11:19:11 amof course you do, with a hot bar

author: Pjotr
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2015, 12:31:20 pm
content: Quote from: Rasz on July 05, 2015, 12:22:28 pmPictures of that and of the result?

author: ruffy91
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 05, 2015, 01:04:43 pm
content: You can glue the ffc down and then solder it by hand:

author: Sailor
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2015, 12:24:11 am
content: Soldering is really the least of my worries, providing the stripped conductors are in good shape. My main concern is stripping cleanly, so that the conductors are straight and undamaged. There are legitimate reasons for needing to solder a FFC, and I expect that a lot of people have tackled the stripping problem with varying degrees of success. A quick search on Google, however, doesn't turn up anything useful.

author: Fraser
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: July 06, 2015, 11:16:53 pm
content: I have tried and failed several times.The problem is the layer bonding glue. It puts up a good fight and, in my case, damaged the thin conductors. The pre stripped ones are easy to solder with the right kit.FPC ribbon repair can be a serious challenge.Aurora

author: sarepairman2
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: July 07, 2015, 04:18:31 am
content: sand paper works on some. idk about thick ones (like IDE)

author: Myself
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: February 27, 2017, 03:10:57 pm
content: Solved:Strip it with sandpaper. For me, what works best is getting way more cable than I need, and stripping the MIDDLE of the cable, by wrapping it around a mandrel and touching it to a belt sander.Then cut it across the middle of the stripped region, and solder like you'd expect.

author: rxyzm
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: July 09, 2018, 08:47:08 pm
content: Myself,That's great idea.I am positive it will help me too. I need to take the insulation layer off of the conductors.Tried using a very sharp blade. But, if one dosen't get the angle right, then the blade just slices through the conductors.Warm Regards,

author: SpencerTC
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: July 10, 2018, 12:46:43 pm
content: Quote from: Myself on February 27, 2017, 03:10:57 pmThis was a neat idea that I'm sure I will use in the future.Thank you.