JLCPCB Blog

Flexible Heater Basics

What Are the Difference between Polyimide Flexible Heater and FPC？

Introduction While polyimide (PI) flexible heaters and flexible printed circuit boards (FPCs) may appear similar in structure, their materials, tolerances, and purposes are fundamentally different. PI flexible heaters are designed for heat generation and thermal management, whereas FPCs focus on signal transmission and electrical interconnection. This article explains their differences in features structures, and functions, helping engineers choose the optimal solution for their applications. Features......

Oct 13, 2025

Heating Hub

The Industrial “Heat Sponge”: How Regenerators Power Our Hottest Industries

In the vast machinery of modern industry, heat is currency. Wasting it is akin to burning money—literally. A typical steel mill, for instance, can lose enough heat through its exhaust in a single day to warm a small town for a week. While most people are familiar with the radiator in a car—a device that continuously transfers heat through a metal wall (known as a recuperator)—there is a more robust, cyclical cousin in the engineering world: the regenerator. Think of a regenerator not as a pipe, but as......

Feb 09, 2026

Heating Hub

Beyond Water: The Engineering of Air-Cooled Heat Exchangers

In the vast landscape of industrial engineering, cooling is a non-negotiable requirement. Whether refining oil, generating power, or processing chemicals, removing excess heat is essential for safety and efficiency. Traditionally, this meant water—oceans of it. Huge cooling towers and massive water treatment facilities have long been the industry standard. But what happens when you build a plant in an arid desert, or where environmental regulations strictly limit thermal pollution in local waterways? ......

Feb 09, 2026

Flexible PCBs

Mastering PCB Stiffeners: A Comprehensive Guide to Types, Applications, and Design Best Practices for Flexible Circuits

Flexible and rigid-flex PCBs are increasingly common in modern electronic designs, but their soft nature poses mechanical reliability challenges, especially in connector, component mounting, and dynamic bending areas. PCB stiffeners serve as localized reinforcement materials to effectively address these issues. They add rigidity in designated areas to provide mechanical support while maintaining bendability in flexible zones. Engineers widely use them in consumer electronics, medical devices, automoti......

Feb 13, 2026

Surface Finishes & Coating

Avoid PCB Assembly Failures: Mastering Solder Mask Expansion Rules and Best Practices

Solder mask protects copper traces and pads from oxidation, bridges, and contamination during assembly. Incorrect solder mask expansion—the clearance around features where mask is pulled back—leads to defects like shorts or exposed copper. Engineers must set expansion values precisely to ensure reliable soldering and long-term performance. Introduction: Why Solder Mask Expansion is Critical for PCB Reliability Understanding Solder Mask and Expansion Basics Solder mask is a polymer layer applied over t......

Feb 11, 2026

Heating Hub

The High-Performance Athletes of Engineering: A Deep Dive into Compact Heat Exchangers

In the vast world of thermal engineering, traditional shell-and-tube heat exchangers are the heavy lifters—massive, industrial giants found in oil refineries and power plants. Some of these behemoths weigh as much as a locomotive and occupy the footprint of a small house. But when space is tight and weight is the enemy—say, in a jet engine cruising at 40,000 feet or a liquefied natural gas terminal on a floating platform—engineers turn to a different breed of machine: the Compact Heat Exchanger. Think......

Feb 09, 2026