1 Layer PCB - Detailed Introduction from 6 Aspects
1. What is 1 Layer PCB Board
1 Layer PCB, called also single sided PCB, refers to a printed circuit board that has one layer conductive pattern. The circuit board is fabricated through the lamination with insulating material, on other side electronics components are connected electrically and fixed mechanically.
Single Layer PCB
2. 1 Layer PCB Fabrication Process
Cutting - Cleaning - Drilling - Cleaning - PTH - Panel - Plating - Cleaning - Photolithography - Image Transfer - Inspection - Copper/Tin - Plating - Coating - Removing/Etching/Tin - Removing - Inspection - Cleaning - Solder - Mask - Exposure/Develop/Inspection - Prepreg - Screen - HASL - Conformal - Coating - Post - Soldering - Cleaning - Test - Final Inspection - Packing
Single Sided PCB
3. Single Layer vs Double Layer PCB vs Multilayer PCB
If you are a hobbyist or student, you need to etch the board yourself, go for 1 layer PCB. Because single sided is much easier to do. You don’t need to align or plate through - hole, etc. Double - sided PCB is pretty hard for a hobbyist to make. But, you will have to make it large enough to fit all the components plus room for the traces.
1 Layer PCB
If you want to get your boards made commercially by PCB manufacturer, choose double sided PCB for ease of routing. A dual sided PCB allows you to have a ground plane or ground grid which is better for reducing electrical noise. With double - sided, layout is easier because if two traces cross, you can just extend one trace under the board, cross under the conflicting trace on the top, and then have it reappear on the top side.
Double Sided PCB
Single Sided PCB contains only one layer of conductive material and are best suited for low density designs. Single sided and double sided is a matter of routing and design convenience (as well as improved circuit implementation quality) at the cost of a more complicated manufacturing process. This difference in complexity has largely disappeared in the commercial fab world and single layer boards have virtually no price difference with double layer boards. That’s to say, the cost of double sided PCB is almost the same with single sided PCB, the same lead time as well.
1 Layer PCB Prototype
If you want to do 1 layer PCB prototype or 2 layer PCB prototype, just send your Gerber files to ALLPCB.com, both of them can be delivered in 24 hours with Only $10 and free shipping!
Single Layer PCB vs Double Layer PCB
Single layer PCB (called also as single sided PCB) simply have components on one side of the board and the conductor pattern on the other side. Often, single layer PCBs are used for simple devices and usually cheaper than multilayer PCBs.
Multilayer PCB has one or multiple conductor patterns inside the board, this increases the area available for wiring. multilayer PCB, such as 4 layer, 6 layer and 8 layer PCBs are usually used for more complicated devices. For example, smart phones use 12 layers due to the various demands of the circuit.
Multilayer PCB Board
Multilayer PCB
4. Types of Single Layer PCB
Single Layer Rigid PCB
Single Layer Flexible PCB
Single Layer Rigid Flex PCB
Single Layer High Frequency PCB
Single Layer Aluminum PCB
5. Advantages of Single Sided PCB
Simple and easy to design and install
Lower cost, especially for high volume orders
Easy drilling, soldering, de-soldering and components inserting process
Lower probability of manufacturing issues,such as short circuiting and producing noise
Components are installed at only one side, require lower jumper to compensate the circuit
Popular, common, and easily understood by most PCB manufacturers
Less time for fault tracing and repairing
6. Application of Single Sided PCB
As we know the single layer PCBs are very simple, but these are still in used in so much complex devices, such as consumption products, power related products, LED panel, digital cameras, radio and stereo equipment, photo copy and printer machines, vending machine, Control panel of electric cooker, washing machine, power adapter, LED lamp, etc.
