If there is one thing that people can find in abundance in the modern world, it is PCBs.
PCBs, or ‘printed circuit boards’, form the basis and foundation of modern technological society, given that they are used almost everywhere.
The technology has undergone significant changes, from its early days.
From rudimentary designs and inadequate materials, the world of PCBs has come a long way in evolving into the form that exists today.
In fact, one could say that the modern form is in fact something that is almost distinct from the early days of technology.
Of the many different forms that they have evolved into, one of the most important is that of ‘multi-layered PCBs.’
In simple words, they are the printed circuit boards, which are designed to have more than a single level in them, as it would be in the case of conventional designs.
As the name would suggest, they come with multiple layers, all of which are stacked on top of one another. To be more specific, a multilayer PCB is one that has three or more conductive copper foil layers.
There are several advantages when it comes to multi-layer PCBs. Some of the most important ones around are given in the points below:
- Lightweight Construction
One of the biggest advantages of multilayer PCBs is that they are lightweight in construction.
Given that they have multiple layers of circuits on them, it is easier to compress large circuit designs onto a smaller area, without the need for any additional material as would be the case for regular PCBs.
This ‘compressed’ form allows for the manufacture of lightweight circuitry, which works at a greater degree of efficiency, and at the same time using a lower amount of material than otherwise.
- Smaller Sizes
This is related to the previous point, as well as one unto itself.
Since the structure of multilayer PCBs allows for large circuits to be ‘compressed’ onto a smaller area, one is able to integrate large designs onto smaller chips.
In simple words, it allows for the technology to get smaller, without any loss in efficiency or power. The end result is a PCB that is smaller in size with the power of much larger regular PCBs.
- Higher Quality
Given that these PCBs have multiple layers on them, it becomes necessary to ensure a high degree of planning during the design and manufacturing stages.
This is important so as to ensure that the circuits don’t fail later on when they are put to actual use. There is a lot more going on per unit area in these circuits, in comparison to conventional ones, which makes it necessary to have a greater degree of quality than regular technology.
What this means for multilayer PCBs in general, is that they tend to be of a higher quality than what would be the case for regular PCBs.
- Better Durability
Another important advantage of multilayer PCBs is that they are generally more durable.
There is a reason for this. It has to do with the way they are designed, as already mentioned. The PCBs are required to bear their own weight, as well as handle the heat and pressure used during the manufacturing processes to bind them together.
Furthermore, they have several layers of insulation between circuit layers which are bound using prepreg bonding agents and an assortment of various protective materials.
- More Powerful
Multilayer PCBs are designed with productivity in mind.
Due to the fact that they comprise of multiple layers of circuits on the same surface area, it becomes easier for one to process larger amounts of data and information on them than on regular PCBs.
This factor makes the multilayer PCBs a lot more powerful in comparison to regular PCBs.
- A Single Connection Point
This may not mean anything for the common man, but it is certainly something for those into electronics design.
Multilayer PCBs come with a single connection point, which allows for the simplicity of technology design. In addition to this, it also allows for one to shrink the size of the overall number of circuits and other designs required to keep any electronic entity functional.
- Flexibility
This is not so much a given, but rather something that can occasionally be expected.
Many of the times, the materials used for the multilayer PCBs are designed using flexible materials, which in turn makes them flexible.
The main reason why this is done is for applications where there may be mild flexibility required on a regular basis.
It should be noted that although flexibility remains an option, the degree of it will reduce with the number of layers on the PCB. In general, the greater the number of layers on the board, the lower its flexibility is going to be.
To make a long story short, there is a chance that the PCBs that are multi-layered may be flexible in certain cases, albeit not all of them. If this is a characteristic feature required from the technology, it is something that has to be specified in advance, for it is not always a given.
- Cost Efficiency
This is another potential advantage when it comes to multilayer PCBs.
In general, the cost of manufacturing them will be higher in comparison to regular PCBs. At the same time, however, the cost difference is offset by the fact that there are savings elsewhere.
Some of the savings here include, among others, the decrease in the need for additional circuitry, the lowering manufacturing cost for the end-user, the less amount of labor required for installing multiple circuits, the lower number of quality checks required, etc.
All of these things add up in the end, to make the product cost-efficient to the end-user.
Last but not the least, it should be noted that the points listed out below are but some of the most important ones to consider, when it comes to the advantages of multi-level PCBs.
There are many other uses for this chemical compound than the ones mentioned above as well, which you can find out through additional and further research.