The Process Advantages And Application Areas of Single-sided Printed Circuit Boards

1、 Core process technology
The production process of single-sided PCB is simpler than that of laminated boards, but it requires precise control of key links to avoid defects:
Basic process:
Copper coated substrate cutting → graphic transfer (photochemical method or screen printing) → etching (removal of excess copper foil) → drilling → solder mask printing (oxidation prevention) → character printing (identification) → surface treatment (such as OSP oxidation prevention) → molding test.
Technical difficulties and countermeasures:
Graphic offset: It is necessary to control the screen tension (≥ 25N/cm) and reduce the screen spacing to improve printing accuracy.
Solder mask foaming: using non adhesive substrate (such as pure adhesive PI film) to improve high temperature stability.
Uneven etching of thick copper: Optimize the concentration of etching solution and spray pressure to avoid jagged lines.
The following table summarizes the main process difficulties and solutions:
Solution to the causes of technical difficulties
Graphic offset/deformation: Insufficient screen tension or excessive mesh spacing. Increase screen tension (≥ 25N/cm) and reduce mesh spacing
The thermal stability of the solder mask layer foaming substrate is poor, and a non adhesive substrate (such as pure adhesive PI film) is used
Improper control of uneven etching parameters in thick copper etching, optimization of etching solution concentration and spray pressure
Rough borehole wall, insufficient drilling accuracy, using high-precision drill bits, controlling drilling speed
Material selection:
The substrate is mainly paper-based phenolic resin (low cost), and high-performance scenarios can choose fiberglass epoxy resin (better heat resistance).
OSP (organic solder mask) is commonly used for surface treatment, which balances oxidation resistance and low cost.
2、 Core advantages and limitations
Advantages:
Outstanding cost-effectiveness:
The material usage is small (only single-layer copper foil), the manufacturing equipment is simple, and the cost of mass production is more than 30% lower than that of double-sided panels.
High reliability and easy maintenance:
The simple structure leads to a low failure rate, and the faults are easy to locate (the wire layer is only single-sided). Maintenance only requires basic welding tools.
Lightweight and Adaptability:
The thickness can be as low as 0.1mm (such as flexible single panels), suitable for space limited devices (such as endoscopes, TWS earphones).
Environmental protection and convenient production:
The process flow is short, the energy consumption is low, and it supports fast sampling (delivery within 72 hours at the fastest).
Limitations:
Low wiring density: unable to cross over wiring, complex circuits require detours, limiting their application in high-speed/high integration scenarios.
Larger size: Single layer wiring requires a larger area, resulting in an increase in device volume.
3、 Application Fields
Single sided PCBs dominate in the following fields due to their low cost and high reliability:
Consumer electronics products:
Home appliance control board (coffee machine, washing machine), remote control (such as air conditioning carbon film keypad), calculator.
Industrial and Automation Equipment:
Sensors, timing circuits, vending machine control boards, adaptable to temperature changing environments and easy to maintain.
LED lighting system:
The driver circuit board has a simple structure, low heat dissipation requirements, and controllable mass production costs.
Automotive electronic basic module:
Low complexity circuits such as car light control and windshield wipers are resistant to vibration and have a long lifespan.
Medical equipment:
Wearable monitor, endoscope (flexible single panel that can bend and adapt to narrow spaces).
The following table compares the performance characteristics of single-sided PCBs in various application fields:
Core advantages of typical products in application fields reflect material/process characteristics
Consumer electronics remote controls and calculators have low costs and short production cycles. They are made of paper-based phenolic resin and carbon film buttons
Industrial automation sensors, timing circuits resistant to temperature changes, easy to maintain fiberglass epoxy resin substrates
The LED lighting driver circuit board has a simple structure and low heat dissipation requirements. It is designed with thick copper (above 1oz)
Automotive electronic light control, wiper vibration resistance, long lifespan OSP surface treatment
Medical equipment endoscope, wearable device flexible adaptation, miniaturized ultra-thin polyimide flexible substrate
4、 Industry Trends
Technological upgrade: By using high-precision exposure technology (line width/line spacing up to 50 μ m) and laser blind hole technology, the wiring density is improved.
Market growth: The size of China's single-sided PCB market will reach 16.3 billion yuan in 2024 (with a compound annual growth rate of 7.3%), driven mainly by the demand for the Internet of Things and LED lighting.
Flexible substitution: The application of ultra-thin flexible single panels (0.1mm) in folding devices and medical probes is accelerating, with an annual demand growth rate of over 15%