A 6-layered printed circuit board is mostly used in compact devices like military appliances, mini portable gadgets, and communication modules. 6-layered PCB requires a high-tech manufacturing process that includes drilling, laminating, and plating.
Therefore, the manufacturing process must be handled by experienced manufacturers to develop a high-efficient 6-layered PCB.
What is 6-Layer Flex PCB?
A 6-layered PCB is a type of multi-layered PCB. It consists of 6 layers, of which four layers are of the circuit and two layers are of the signal, which is placed between the ground planes. The manufacturing stack design of a 6-layered PCB consists of 2 internal grounds, two internal layers, two outer layers, one power layer, and one ground layer.
A 6-layer PCB stack helps to control the EMI between circuit layers. This type of stack PCB enhances the EMI performance and provides better routing for both low and high-speed signals. The internal two layers route signals at high speed while the outer two layers route the signals at low speed.
8-layered and 4-layered stack PCBs can be ideal for most manufacturers, but a 6-layer PCB stack is exceptional as it is most suitable in all cases. A conventional 6-layer PCB stack helps professionals and technicians balance the requirements of the manufacturing process while keeping signal integrity issues in mind.
Number Of Signals and Ground Planes on 6-Layer Flex PCB
It is essential to know the quantity of power, signal, and plane layers that are going to be added to the PCB. However, the number of these layers totally depends upon the type of PCB you are going to make. For example, if your device needs a design for signal control, then the signal layer number will increase. There are various combinations for designing the layers of a 6-layer PCB stack. Some of them are as follows:
Signal to Ground to Power to Ground to Signal to Ground
This arrangement layer of PCB is best suited when you have a goal to protect the inner layers while controlling both high and low-speed signals. The inner layer of the signal is protected from the signal layer of the surface as it is insulated between two layers of the ground plane. Moreover, the conductors offer protection to the internal signal from getting mixed up with the EMI.
The only drawback of this layer combination is that this PCB stack only allows components to be integrated on the topmost layer unless cut down the ground layer to make space for more components.
Signal to Power to Signal with two layers to Ground to Signal
This arrangement of layers is a general entry-level option. It protects the traces with low speed and offers a firm connection to the ground planes. Signals are routed with a slower transitioning speed or through the internal layer if they are orthogonal.
The main issue in this layer arrangement is the lack of interplane capacity between the power and ground layer. As these ground layers are different, that is why you need additional de-caps for compensation.
Ground to Signal to Power to Ground to Signal to Ground
This arrangement is best suited for devices in a noisy, loud atmosphere or an environment with strong radiation. This type of PCB stack helps suppress the EMI. Moreover, it is also suited where great isolation is needed between the layers of signals.
The main issue with this layer arrangement is that there are only two layers of signals. This restricts the routing process of signals due to less space. This can easily be solved if both layers of the signal are enclosed between the conductors.
Factors to Choose The Design of 6-Layer Flex PCB
Some factors highly affect the overall layout of the 6-layer stacked PCB. A traditional 6-layered PCB helps suppress the EMI and uses in various RF devices. However, any single mistake during the design of the stack-up affects the overall functionality of the printed circuit board. Therefore, it is better to look out for some factors while designing the PCB stack-up.
1. Area Of Applications
A 6-layer stack-up printed circuit board is one of the widely used PCBs in various industries. That is why it is essential to know the industry and area of usage before starting the designing will help in building the right stack-up.
2. Design Configurations
It is crucial to identify the whole structure before starting to design a 6-layered PCB, as there are different combinations of layers available according to their usage in application. That is why I choose the combination beforehand.
3. Electrical Specifications
It is crucial to identify the current supply, like how much a 6-layered PCB is going to carry in every second. This helps in providing an adequate route and path for the current to flow.
4. Cost Of Production
The designing and manufacturing cost of a PCB varies with the materials and techniques used in the PCB. The more complex the design is, the more it will cost. That is why it is best to calculate the rough cost before starting the design.
5. Thermal Specifications
Identifying the thermal capacity is crucial beforehand as the 6-layer PCB stack-up is widely used in devices with high temperatures.
6. Component Density
The number and type of components also need to be known beforehand, as each component provides a distinct electrical connection to the PCB.
Advantages of 6-Layer Flex PCB
A 6-layer PCB stack-up is widely used in various electronic devices due to its vast and highly efficient benefits. Some of them are as follows:
· Lightweight construction
6-layered PCB that uses lightweight components which automatically reduce the overall weight of the PCB. Moreover, it also does not require many connectors for connecting the components.
· Simple Layout
This 6-layered PCB is a simple type of multilayer PCB. It has a very simple structure with a basic layout and clear labeling, which enables it to be easy to navigate.
· Small Size
Because of the design and components used in this 6-layered PCB, its size is much smaller than conventional multilayer PCBs. This feature makes it ideal for using it in mini-devices.
· Simplify Process
The connection system of the 6-layer PCB stack is very simple. Due to its simple design feature, one can save a lot of time, material, and space that goes wasted in manufacturing bigger devices.
· Exceptional Electrical Properties
The 6-layers circuit board is designed in such a way that it contains high electrical abilities, which provide high speed and performance for the devices.
· Enhances Durability
Durability is a highly appreciable benefit that one can enjoy. The 6-layered PCB is designed with several layers of insulations between circuit layers. However, various efficient materials and adhesives are used to firm these layers. This automatically enhances the durability of the overall device.
Conclusion
A six-layered printed circuit board stack is ideal for various devices because of its phenomenal benefits. This multilayer PCB possesses high mechanical and electronic properties. The structure and design of this 6-layer PCB are simple that making it accessible to every other manufacturer.