Releted Other PCBs

Your Trusted Single-Sided PCB Manufacturer in China

SMTFAB is a premier single-sided PCB manufacturer and supplier in China. We can provide different types of single-sided PCBs for you.

• Over 12 years of single-sided PCB manufacturing experience
• Sufficient raw materials in stock
• Certified with UL US and Canada
• No minimum order quantity even 1pcs
• 100% E-test and AOI inspection
• Has served over 1000+ clients around the world
• Quick-turn service 24h for your prototype PCB

• Production Facility
• Capabilities

Flexible PCB

Rigid-Flex PCB

High Frequency PCB

Multilayer PCB

Flexible PCB

Rigid-Flex PCB

High Frequency PCB

Multilayer PCB

Flexible PCB

Rigid-Flex PCB

Why Choose SMTFAB for Your Single-Sided PCB

Single-sided PCB, called also 1 layer PCB, refers to a printed circuit board that has one layer conductive pattern.

Single-sided PCB is the simplest and most common PCB. Most PCB manufacturers can produce it.

SMTFAB single-sided circuit board is one of the most cost-effective PCBs in the market. We can provide a quick-turn service for your prototype and mass production.

As a reputable single-sided PCB supplier and factory in China, SMTFAB can offer you many types of single-sided PCBs, including the LED circuit board, flexible circuit board, aluminum PCB, ceramic PCB, Rogers printed circuit board, thick copper PCB, high-frequency circuit board, high TG PCB, and Teflon PCB.

Are you looking for a premier single-sided PCB manufacturer? SMTFAB is your best choice.

It can use many different applications including LED lighting, printers, cookers, relays, camera systems, timing circuits, power supplies, and calculators.

SMTFAB can always meet your needs and provide top-quality single-sided PCB to you.

Throughout over 12 years of PCB manufacturing experience, SMTFAB has become the most valuable single-sided PCB suppliers in China. We have professional sales team and expert engineering team, so you can 100% ensure that SMTFAB can deliver you the best single-sided PCB.

SMTFAB has more than 500 employees with over 12 years of PCB manufacturing experience and the workshop area will be reached 20,000 square meters.

We can offer free samples for you when you have mass production order of single-sided circuit boards.

Please do not hesitate to contact us, we’re always here to support you.

Single–Sided PCB – The Ultimate Guide

If you’re looking for a complete guide to help you fully understand single-sided PCBs, this guide is for you.

This guide will give you expert knowledge about single-sided PCB.

Among the important things, you will learn about single-sided PCB include the meaning of single-sided PCB, the difference between single-sided PCB and other types of PCBs, the manufacturing process of single-sided PCB, how to maintain them, how to order and import them, and many more.

Ready? Let’s dive in.

What is Single-Sided PCB?

Single-Sided PCB

A single-sided PCB is the simplest form of a printed circuit board. It has one layer with all circuit components mounted on one side of its layer.

It is also called a single-layer PCB. Single-sided PCB is mostly used for simple electronic applications.

It is made up of one substrate layer that forms the main structure or framework of the board.

On top of the substrate layer is a copper conductive layer. The board’s design circuit is done on the copper conductive layer. The circuit is then soldered on the copper layer.

A silkscreen is applied to the board to mark important details and values of the board.

A solder mask is applied to the copper layer to ensure smooth transmission of current through the circuit. The solder mask also protects the solder from corroding. It also prevents harmful materials from getting to the board.

Single-Sided PCB

What are the applications of a Single-Sided PCB?

Single-sided PCBs have the following applications:

Camera systems, Power suppliers, Timing circuits, Printers, Radio equipment, Relays, Led lighting, Vending machines, Packaging equipment, Stereo equipment

What Are The Benefits of Single Layer Applications?

Single-Sided PCBs have the following benefits:

• They are used for making cheap devices in large quantities
• Single-sided PCBs are used for making simple devices in large volumes.
• They are used for producing simple equipment in large volumes
• You can easily diagnose and repair single-sided PCB devices
• You can easily order large of single-sided PCBs due to their easy manufacturing and turnover time
• They are ideal for low-density designs

What Are The Disadvantages Of Single-Sided PCB?

Below are some disadvantages of single-sided PCBs:

• They have poor power distribution options
• Single-sided PCBs have a complex routing
• Single-sided PCB can’t handle huge components
• They can’t accommodate several parts due to their simple design.
• They have a poor routing density
• Single-sided PCBs have a small space and it offers little power due to their simple design.
• It has a longer development time.
• The only way to increase the speed and operating capacity of a single-sided PCB is to increase its dimensions. This in turn makes them heavy and big.
• The few connections on the single-sided PCBs make them slow.
• They have and a lower operating capacity due to their few circuit connections

What Is The Difference Between Single-Sided PCB and Double-Sided PCB?

On a single-sided PCB, only one side of their layer is mounted with circuit parts. On the other hand, both sides of the double-sided PCB are mounted with circuit parts.

Double-Sided PCB

While single-sided PCB is used for simple electronic applications, double-sided PCB can be used for complex electronic applications.

Single-Sided PCB V Double Sided PCB

What Is The Difference Between Single-Sided PCB and Multilayer PCB?

Unlike single-sided PCB that has a single layer, multilayer PCB has two or more layers. Each layer of the multiple-sided PCB is mounted with circuit parts. Multiple-sided PCBs can handle huge circuit parts and are suitable for more complex circuit applications.

Multi-Sided PCB Showing Multiple Layers

What Is The Manufacturing Process of Single-Sided PCB?

Design the Compressor PCB.

The first step in the single-sided PCB manufacturing process is to design the board. You need to use excellent designing software to design the board to get a precise and accurate blueprint.

This will serve as a guide or roadmap in the manufacturing process. Remember, the quality of the board’s design is crucial to the success of the board.

Design for Single Layer PCB

Print the Design

Once the design is complete, print the design with a plotter printer. In this process, the design is printed into a film capturing all the specifications of the board.

Produce Substrate

At this stage, the substrate that forms the base foundation or main structure of the board is produced.

Once this is done, you need to cover the substrate with a conductive copper layer and precure it in an oven. After this, etch the copper to create a very neat design of the laminate.

Remove Excess Layers

Here, unwanted copper layers are removed by passing them through a chemical solution. After this, use the optical punch machine to see if the layers are well aligned.

Drill the Board

With the aid of a computer-guided drill, drill holes in the single-sided PCB substrate. All excess copper should be removed afterward.

Plate the Board

The board is plated with thin copper and layered with tin materials. By doing this, you protect all outward layers of the single-sided board.

Etch the Board

After plating the board, you need to etch the board to take away unwanted copper. Once this is complete, a solder mask is applied to the board to give it a green color.

After this, you cure and coat the board before applying a surface finish to the single-sided board.

https://youtu.be/UgU63NlU6W0

What Are The Components Of The Single Side PCB?

There are four main components of the single-sided PCB. They are substrate, a copper layer, solder mask, silkscreen.

Substrate

The substrate is mostly made of fiberglass and forms the base foundation of the single-sided PCB. It provides massive strength to the board. All other layers are built on the substrate. You can call the substrate the main structure of the single-sided PCB.

Copper Layer

The copper conductive layer is applied to the substrate. The board’s circuit design is crafted on the copper layer. It also serves as a medium that transmits signals to other parts of the board. This functions like the nervous system of the human brain that transmits signals to all body parts.

Solder Mask

This polymer material covers the copper layer and soldered sections of the board. The covering of the copper layer with solder masks ensures the board’s system is not short-circuited as a result of copper layers touching each other.

Silk Screen

The silkscreen is applied on the single-sided PCB circuit to serve as a platform on which part details, manufacturer’s information, and other vital information are marked on the board.

You can see the part numbers, part references, test points, and symbol switch settings of the board on the silkscreen.

Testing Single Sided PCB

What Materials Are Used For Single-Sided PCB?

Single-sided PCB Manufacturers mostly use foil-clad and copper-clad laminates to produce single-sided PCBs.

Copper clad, copper-clad phenolic paper, copper-clad epoxy paper laminates are typical examples of materials used for manufacturing single-sided PCB.

When choosing the materials for your board, you need to consider key factors like electrical performance, feasibility, and processing specifications of the board. You need to also take note of the economic features of the board.

How Are Single-Sided PCB Maintained?

Manufacturers employ various techniques and steps in maintaining single-sided PCB.

In this section, we will look at some of the most important and popular steps in maintaining aboard.

Observe the board

For effective maintenance of the board, you need to first observe and understand the board. Critically study the board to understand how it works, its input and output interfaces, the functions it executes, and how its different control components are distributed.

Perform a Circuit Test on the Board

Right after critically observing and analyzing the board, you need to do an initial inspection and test on the board.

Even though this initial test may not help you find the real fault of the board, it is super important in providing you with good information that will help you repair the board.

Inspect the Components

Here, you remove the parts of the single-sided board from the circuit with a soldering iron and inspect them with standard inspection equipment.

It is important to note that it is not advisable to dismantle and remove the board’s components under normal circumstances. This is because dismantling the components may lead to damages to the board’s external integrity.

Fix the Fault

This is where you do the real maintenance work once you’ve discovered the board’s fault from the first steps. Here, you can repair the lines and replace faulty parts.

Test the board.

After maintaining the board, you need to test it on a computer to make sure it functions as expected.

How Long Does It Take To Produce Single-Sided PCB?

Production time for single-sided PCB is influenced by several factors. So, because of this manufacturers have different production times.

With that said, on average, it takes 3-5 to produce samples and 5-7 days for mass-producing single-sided boards.

To massively reduce production and delivery time, you need to produce the board in stock. The manufacturer needs to negotiate and agree with you on the delivery time.

What Procedures Should Be Followed When Ordering Single-Sided PCB?

Below are the processes you need to follow when ordering your single-sided PCB:

• Determine the specifications of your single-sided board. Depending on the application of your board, you need to decide on the specifications of the board before attempting to order for your board.
• Search for a reliable single-sided PCB. To do this, you can do a quick research on Google or Bingo by entering the keyword “single-sided PCB manufacturers”. Pick a Manufacturer with massive experience, at least 10 years. The supplier should use highly advanced equipment for their manufacturing.
• Browse the website of your chosen supplier and select your preferred single-sided board that meets your application specifications. You can do this in the product catalog section of the supplier.
• Connect with the supplier to make a former order request using the order form on their website.
• Contact the customer services of the supplier for further instructions for your order.

What Software Is Used for Designing Single-Sided PCB?

Manufacturers employ various designing software to design single-sided PCBs depending on preference and quality of software.

Let’s have a look at some of the industry’s designing software:

• Altium software
• Fusion 60
• Design spark software
• Eagle software
• AutoCAD software
• PADS PCB design software
• Extended Gerber software
• Proteus software
• Sprint layout software
• CAD designing software

What Qualities Do You Need To Look For When Choosing a Professional Single-Sided Manufacturer?

You must look out for these important qualities when choosing a single-sided manufacturer.

Professionalism

The first thing to look out for in a manufacturer is their professionalism. Your ideal single-sided PCB supplier should be professional in their operations.

One way to check if a manufacturer is professional is their certifications. Ensure you only order from a manufacturer with recognized industry certifications.

Experience

Experience is key in selecting a good single-sided manufacturer. Get to know the experience of the manufacturer in the board manufacturing industry. An ideal manufacturer should have at least 10 years of experience under their belt.

Experienced manufacturers employ experts, an experienced workforce, and the best technology in their board’s manufacturing thereby ensuring they offer quality single-sided boards.

Manufacturing technology

Due to the complexity of the manufacturing process of PCB, manufacturers need to use advanced technology and equipment to produce the quality board.

This is why you need to find out from the manufacturer’s website the kind of technology, equipment, and processes they use.

A reliable single-sided manufacturer should use cutting-edge technologies and test equipment for their production.

Warranty

Again, the complexity of the PCB manufacturing process exposes it to unexpected failure and breakdown. This is why it is always safe to purchase from a supplier that offers at least a 1-year warranty for their board.

Suppliers who offer warranties for their board show they have massive faith in the capabilities of their board. It also proves they’re willing to replace or maintain your board for you for free when it breaks down during the warranty period.

After Sales Service

An ideal supplier should offer classic after-sales like training, repairs, etc. They should have good customer service you can contact quickly when you face a problem with your board.

You can read reviews of other clients on the supplier’s website to have a feel of the supplier’s customer and after-sale service.

Multi Sided PCB

What Causes Single-Sided PCB Failure?

Design

Poor design happens to be a major reason why single-sided PCB fails. When you don’t fully understand the specifications of the board and design it to suit these specifications, the board may end up failing.

This means you need to spend time understanding the board’s specifications and its working environment. This will help you to create a quality board to meet its operational requirement.

It will also help you to choose the right materials for the board.

With this said, quality and industry-standard design software should be used for designing for excellent results.

After designing, the design should be checked and verified by an expert before fabrication begins.

Environment

Another common cause of single-sided PCB failure is its working environment. If the board is exposed to dust, high humidity, and extensive heat, it can fail.

The board should only be used in a suitable environment that aligns with its specifications. It should be periodically checked, cleaned, and maintained.

Manufacturing Defects

When there are poor or low-quality joints on the board, it can easily fail. Exposure to contaminants during manufacturing can lead to board failure.

Also, when the various layers or components of the single-sided board are not well aligned, it can cause it to fail.

Ensure that soldering is done perfectly to make the joints strong. Do not expose the board to various contaminants when assembling the parts.

The parts should be well aligned. Ensure there is structural integrity when assembling. Strictly follow standard industry fabrication standards to produce quality and lasting single-sided boards.

How Can You Import Single-Sided PCB from China?

Importing Single Sided PCB

Ordering single-sided PCB from China is easy, fast, and cheap unlike importing them from other parts of the world like the USA and Europe.

By following the below steps, you can import single-sided PCB from a reliable supplier in China.

Contact a Reliable Supplier

As we discussed earlier in this guide, one of the first steps in ordering a single-sided board is to determine your board’s requirements and search for a reliable supplier to get them.

Once you settle on a reliable manufacturer, you need to contact the supplier and make a request for your preferred board on their product catalog. Contacting the manufacturer and making an order request are the first steps of importing boards from China.

Sign a Contract.

It is super important to agree with the supplier on paper on matters like the type of single-sided PCB you are purchasing, the quantity of board, the amount you’re paying for board, payment method, mode of payment, warranty, and mode of transporting the board to your country.

Signing a contract with the supplier on these important things would help you avoid unnecessary misunderstandings and confusion with the supplier.

So, contracts protect both you and the supplier and help you resolve any issue that arises because the contract serves as evidence.

Decide on How the Board will be Imported

Here you choose a preferred method the supplier would transport the boards to you. This mostly depends on the quantity of the single-sided board you’re importing and how fast you need it.

Manufacturers mostly transport boards on the water – shipping – and air through airplanes. But shipping seems to be the most popular way to import board from China.

Choose Payment methods

China single-sided PCB suppliers offer several modes of payment to their clients. You need to choose the most convenient way of payment to pay for your board once. Some of the popular payment methods include:

• Western Union
• PayPal
• Bank Transfer

Declare Your Import

Declaring import for your board is one of the important steps of importing boards from China. This process varies and depends on your country’s regulations. Find out from your local authorities how to import declaration is done in your country.

Determine Duty Fees

Here, you determine the duty cost for importing boards from China into your country. Like a declaration of import, duty cost varies and depends on your country.

Receive All Important Legal Documents

You need to receive all important documents of the board from the supplier to help you receive your board at your country’s port.

A packing list, sales contract, and bill of lading documents are some important documents you need from the supplier.

Obtain Delivery Codes

Some countries require an importer to have delivery codes to receive imported goods. Enquire from your local authorities to find out if you need a delivery code for your single-sided board.

• What is Single-Sided PCB?
• What are the applications of a Single-Sided PCB?
• What Are The Benefits of Single Layer Applications?
• What Are The Disadvantages Of Single-Sided PCB?
• What Is The Difference Between Single-Sided PCB and Double-Sided PCB?
• What Is The Difference Between Single-Sided PCB and Multilayer PCB?
• What Is The Manufacturing Process of Single-Sided PCB?
• What Are The Components Of The Single Side PCB?
• What Materials Are Used For Single-Sided PCB?
• How Are Single-Sided PCB Maintained?
• How Long Does It Take To Produce Single-Sided PCB?
• What Procedures Should Be Followed When Ordering Single-Sided PCB?
• What Software Is Used for Designing Single-Sided PCB?
• What Qualities Do You Need To Look For When Choosing a Professional Single-Sided Manufacturer?
• What Causes Single-Sided PCB Failure?
• How Can You Import Single-Sided PCB from China?