Printed Circuit Boards, or PCBs, come in a variety of shapes and sizes. In this article, you’ll learn about the six most common types of PCBs.
Each of these PCB types has its own unique advantages and disadvantages. Which one is right for your project? That depends on a variety of factors, including the complexity of your circuit and the environmental conditions in which it will operate.
In order to make the best decision for your project, you need to understand the basics of each type of PCB. In this article, you’ll learn about:
- single-sided PCBs
- double-sided PCBs
- multilayer PCBs
- flex circuits
- rigid-flex circuits
- rigid PCBs
What Is a Printed Circuit Board (PCB)?
A PCB is one of the most important elements of electronic devices. It is a printed circuit that connects electronic components together.
There are different types of PCBs, and each has its own strengths and weaknesses. In this article, we will explore six of the most common types of PCBs.
Types of Printed Circuit Boards
There are six types of printed circuit boards:
- Single-sided
- Double-sided
- Multi-layered
- Flexible
- Rigid-flexible
- Rigid
1. Single-Sided PCBs
A single-sided PCB is the most basic and simplest type of PCB. As the name implies, it has only one side that is populated with electronic components and traces. Because there is no backside, this type of PCB is generally less expensive to manufacture than other types.
Despite its simplicity, single-sided PCBs can still be useful for a variety of applications. They’re often used in low-end or entry-level products where cost is a more important factor than performance. Additionally, they can be useful for prototyping or testing new designs.
2. Double-Sided PCBs
Now let’s take a look at double-sided PCBs. This type of board contains two conductive layers separated by a dielectric layer and is used for more sophisticated electronics, such as cell phones or computers.
These boards have components on both sides and interconnect them using tiny holes called vias that go through the board. These vias can also be used to connect multiple layers in a single PCB, which increases the complexity of your design while reducing the size of your product.
Double-sided PCBs are generally easier to manufacture than multi-layer boards, but they require more skill to assemble. They are also less expensive than multi-layer boards, so they are popular for low to medium complexity designs with limited space requirements.
3. Multi-Layer PCBs
When the components need to be located on different sides of the breadboard, then a multi-layer PCB may be the ideal choice. With this type of board, not only do you get to stack the components on multiple layers, but you can even have components on both sides of each layer.
And that’s not all—multi-layer PCBs also provide better shielding against interference and noise. This makes them great for high-frequency devices like wireless transmitters. Of course, they’re also more expensive than single-layer boards due to their complex design.
So if cost is not an issue and your electronic components are complex enough to require multi-layering, then this type of board is likely your best bet. Just be sure to check what kind of components you need to assemble in order to determine if it’s worth the extra effort and cost needed for a multi-layer PCB.
4. Flex
Flex boards are made from a flexible sheet of plastic, with copper traces embedded in it. These are usually used for short runs and their main benefit is that they are cheaper than standard PCBs. They are also lighter and more compact.
However, flex boards do have some limitations. As they are quite thin and fragile, they can easily be bent or damaged, so they aren’t suitable for large or complex projects. Also, their heat dissipation isn’t great, so they’re not ideal for high-power applications.
Overall, flex boards are great if you need a simple circuit board solution that’s cheap and lightweight – but beware of their limitations too.
5. Rigid-flex PCB
Next up, let’s talk about a relatively new type of printed circuit board: the rigid-flex board. This type of PCB is great for applications that need both flexibility and rigidity, hence the name.
Rigid-flex boards are made of a combination of flexible circuits and rigid boards—usually one or more layers of flexible circuits sandwiched between two or more layers of rigid boards. This allows them to bend while maintaining a strong connection between components.
These boards often use hardboard cores—a substrate material made from fiberglass-reinforced plastics and high-temperature adhesives—which are designed to resist shock, vibration, and temperature changes. The end result is a robust, reliable board that can withstand harsh conditions and multiple flexing cycles.
6. Rigid PCBs
As the name implies, this type of PCB is rigid and won’t bend or flex. It’s made from layers of fiberglass bonded with resin and is usually used for high-frequency circuitry.
Rigid PCBs are usually single-sided, but can also be double-sided or multi-layer. They are found in a wide variety of electronic devices from gaming consoles to medical equipment. They also tend to be more expensive compared with other types of PCBs due to their complexity and production process.
Since rigid PCBs are non-flexible, they need to be manufactured with precision and accuracy in order to ensure that all components and layers match up perfectly. They also need to have good heat dissipation properties so they can handle high-speed operation without overheating.
China’s Largest PCB Makers
We’ve just looked at the different types of printed circuit boards, but who makes them? Well, if you’re looking for a reliable PCB manufacturer then China is your best bet.
China is home to some of the world’s largest PCB makers and has become a global hub for PCB production. This is because of the country’s excellent infrastructure and highly skilled labor force. There are also many advantages to working with Chinese suppliers, such as lower costs, high levels of quality control, and quick turnaround times.
Some of China’s top PCB manufacturers include ZTD Electronic Co., Ltd., Kingford (Shenzhen) Industrial Co., Ltd., and Shenzhen Grandtop Electronics Co., Ltd. These companies specialize in advanced technology such as HDI (high-density interconnect) boards and offer competitive prices for standard products too. So if you’re looking for a high-quality printed circuit board then look no further than China PCB factory!
Conclusion
When it comes to printed circuit boards, there are a few different types to choose from. Here, we take a look at six of the most common types.
- Single-layer PCB: This is the most basic type of PCB, and it consists of a single layer of copper traces.
- Double-layer PCB: This type has two layers of copper traces, which increases the board’s durability and performance.
- Multi-layer PCB: This type has more than two layers of copper traces, which allows for more complex designs.
- Flexible PCB: This type is made of a flexible material, which allows it to be bent and curved.
- Rigid-flex PCB: This type is a combination of a rigid PCB and a flexible PCB, which allows for more complex designs.
- Rigid PCB: , This type of PCB is rigid and won’t bend or flex. It’s made from layers of fiberglass bonded with resin and is usually used for high-frequency circuitry.
