Before designing a PCB, it is necessary to determine whether to use a single layer PCB or a multilayer PCB. Both design types are common. So which type is right for your project? Where is the difference? As the name suggests, a single layer PCB has only one layer of base material, also known as a substrate, while a multilayer PCB has multiple layers.

Advantages and applications of single layer PCB

A single layer PCB is sometimes called a single sided PCB board. Generally speaking, there are components on one side of the board and copper wiring on the other side. A single layer PCB consists of a base layer, a conductive metal layer, and a protective resistor. Solder film and silk screen composition.

Specifically, a complete single layer PCB should include some components with specific electrical functions, as well as conductive components such as copper foils, pads, and vias that establish the electrical connections of these components.

Advantages and disadvantages of single layer PCB

Advantages: The cost of single layer PCB is lower, and the design and production of single layer PCB are simpler and the lead time is shorter.

Disadvantages: For complex projects, especially when the number of components is large, if the size requirements are small, the single layer PCB cannot handle lower operation, and the larger the capacity, the larger the weight.

The composition of a single layer PCB

A printed circuit board is a board diagram that connects various actual components. A single layer PCB is a copper-clad board composed of a layer of copper film with good conductivity on a substrate with a very high degree of insulation through a certain manufacturing process. Then, according to the requirements of the specific single layer PCB file, the wires of the circuit board diagram are etched on the copper-clad board, and the mounting positioning holes and pads of the single layer PCB are drilled for metallization to realize the bonding of pads and vias. Electrical connections between different layers.

Generally speaking, a single layer PCB is obtained by etching a copper-clad board. The copper-clad board is composed of a base and copper foil. The base of a single layer PCB is usually made of insulating materials such as glass fiber, and the top of the single layer PCB is covered with a layer of copper foil (usually oxygen-free copper). After the copper foil is etched, there are sections of copper foil with twists and turns. These copper foils are called traces. The functions of these traces are equivalent to those in the schematic diagram, and they are responsible for connecting the pins of the components together. There are some holes drilled in the copper foil to install electronic components, which are called drill holes. The copper foil used to solder to the component pins is called a pad. Obviously, a single layer PCB can provide fixed and assembled mechanical support for electronic components, and can realize electrical connection or insulation between electronic components. In addition, we can also see that many single layer PCBs have component numbers and some graphics printed on them, which facilitates component insertion, inspection, and maintenance.

Single layer PCB application

Single layer PCBs are the preferred choice for a variety of electronic products due to their low cost and relative ease of production. Although multi-layer boards are becoming more and more popular as electronic technology becomes more and more complex, single layer PCBs are still widely used. single layer PCBs usually appear in devices with relatively single functions, and single layer PCBs do not need to store large amounts of data or access networks.

Single layer PCBs are typically used in small household appliances such as coffee makers. Single layer PCBs are also the ones used by most calculators, radios, printers, and LED lights. Simpler storage devices such as solid-state drives also typically use a single layer PCB, as do components such as power supplies and many different types of sensors.

Single layer PCB is suitable for radios, tape recorders, televisions, instruments and meters that do not require high electrical performance. Since the single layer PCB is only allowed to be wired on the copper-clad side and the wires are not allowed to cross, the wiring of the single layer PCB is difficult and the routing rate is very low, and it is rarely used at present.

Before the appearance of single layer PCB, the interconnection between electronic components was achieved by direct connection of wires. Now, the circuit board exists only as an effective experimental tool; the printed circuit board has occupied an absolute dominant position in the electronics industry. The factors affecting the price of single layer PCB include the cost of raw materials, the production cost of single layer PCB, the production process of single layer PCB, special requirements, etc. The exact pricing should be discussed with its single layer PCB supplier.