How to install a touch screen's FPC?

As an important component of touch screens, FPC plays a crucial role, but if the installation process is not handled properly, even the best ribbon cables may fail. This article shares some practical experience and "avoiding pitfalls" points about cable installation from the perspective of cable installation.
 

1. Interface processing should be "gentle" and "precise":
(1). The golden finger area is a forbidden zone: the golden finger (connecting terminal) at the end of the FPC of touch screens is extremely delicate and fragile. During installation, it is essential to avoid any physical scratches, sweat stains, or oil stains, as this can easily lead to poor contact. Suggest using anti-static tweezers for operation.
 

(2). Alignment should be "tight and seamless": When inserting the ribbon cable into the socket of the motherboard or connector, be sure to ensure complete alignment and proper insertion. Apply force vertically and evenly to avoid skewing and causing the pins to bend or even break. Hearing a slight 'click' sound is usually a signal that is in place (but it also depends on the specific connector type).
 

2. There are "rules" for the bending angle:
(1). Avoid "dead bending": Although our cable design has excellent bending resistance, it is still necessary to avoid sharp angle bending (close to 90 degrees or less) at extremely small radii (usually less than several times the thickness of the cable) during installation, which can easily damage the internal wiring. The ideal state is a smooth curved arc.
 

(2). The fixed position should be "appropriate": If you need to fix the bent cable, please use a dedicated wire buckle or tape (low stress tape such as 3M VHB is recommended), and the fixing point should be selected in a relatively straight part outside the bending area to avoid direct pressure or sticking at the bending point.
 

3. Stress release is key:
(1). Reserve "activity space": During installation, be sure to leave some slack on the cable path, especially near the connectors and bending areas. This can avoid direct tension on fragile welding points or connector interfaces during vibration, assembly tolerances, or thermal expansion and contraction of the equipment.
 

(2). Stay away from "danger zones": The wiring should avoid sharp edges, screw posts, heat sources (such as CPUs and power modules) or high-frequency interference sources (such as antennas and power inductors) inside the equipment to prevent physical wear, high temperature aging, or signal interference.
 

As the source factory, we at Xinlilai Touch not only provide high-quality touch screens and cables, but also offer customized recommendations for cable length, bending direction, connector position, etc. based on your equipment structure and installation space requirements. Our technical support team is also happy to share installation experience to help you avoid risks and ensure smooth mass production of the product.