Research and Academia

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Case Studies That Prove Performance

Featured Case Studies

We at PICA Manufacturing Solutions support select research and academic programs when time and capacity allow because advancing science and medicine starts with reliable hardware. We partner with university teams and labs to help design and build flexible, rigid, and rigid-flex PCBs that meet demanding performance requirements, from high-density routing and signal integrity to durability in challenging environments. Whether you need early design guidance, material and stackup recommendations, or a complete build path from prototype to assembly, our engineer-backed team works alongside your researchers to turn complex concepts into manufacturable, dependable circuitry so your project can move forward with confidence.

Vivo Recording and Optogenetics

A UC San Diego research team needed a reliable interconnect to link a main electronics board to a sensor board in a tight mechanical envelope, while maintaining a slim profile, high-density routing in a narrow flex width, and continuous flexing during operation. PICA delivered a double-sided flexible printed circuit using rolled annealed copper on an adhesiveless base laminate with button plating, plus turnkey support including design, fabrication, and assembly of the two board connectors.

Cryogenic Electronics Research Case Study

Université de Sherbrooke led project evaluated fully adhesiveless flex circuits as an alternative to wiring harnesses in quantum computing cryostats operating below 4 Kelvin. The goal was to reduce thermal loading, improve stability during thermal cycling, and enable higher-density interconnects, while supporting high-speed differential signaling with 100 ohm controlled impedance routing. Initial evaluations showed feasibility, with cryogenic validation planned under representative conditions.

The blogs featured below expand on this page’s content, offering detailed insights into specific design, manufacturing, and application topics that provide added relevance and deeper context for engineers and decision-makers.

Flex PCB (left) and rigid PCB (right) showing trace routing and layout differences.

When Is Impedance Control Required in Flex and Rigid PCB Design?

When Is Impedance Control Required in Flex and Rigid PCB Design?

As electronic systems become faster, smaller, and more...

Sensors Converge 2026 graphic for Santa Clara, CA, May 5–7, 2026.

Highlights of Sensors Converge 2026

The future of intelligent electronics is becoming smaller, faster, smarter, and more connected — and few events showcase that transformation...

A picture of an iceberg. Above the water shows Total cost of parts and below show all the other cost that go into making a part that aren't seen.

PICA Total Cost of Ownership

PICA’s Approach to Total Cost of Ownership in Electronics Manufacturing

When companies evaluate manufacturing options, quoted piece price is often the...

Membrane switch screen for a medical device

Membrane Switch: Custom Keypads for Reliable User Interfaces

Introduction

When you press the buttons on a medical device, industrial controller, or appliance, there...