Double sided pcb boards are a common tool in both production and prototype circuits. They allow a higher density in components and make laying of tracks an easier process.
Same as a regular circuit board, Double sided boards are made with a substrate of non conductive material, over which a layer of copper is placed on top of it, and in the case of double sided boards, the copper is also layered on the bottom side of the substrate.
As with any type of circuit board, there are advantages to the use of one type over another.
Double sided boards, as I said earlier, allow a higher density of component. This is because you have a whole extra layer where you can add tracks to connect the components, freeing space on the other to place the components closer together or add extra connections for IC with high pin counts.
Another advantage of using double sided boards is the increased heat dissipation that an extra layer of copper provides, this can be achieved in the etching process, only removing enough copper to create the tracks, leaving the extra copper instead of removing it completely.
When to Use Double Sided Boards
The decision to use double sided boards needs to be considered very carefully, because of the added complexity in production and handling of the finished board, as well as the costs associated can make using a double sided board a sub optimal choice to use in an electronic circuit project.
The biggest consideration is manufacturing costs, because most manufacturers will charge extra setup fees for processing the extra side, not only on etching and soldermask, but also on component layouts added in the silkscreen process.
Other added expenses could derive from the design process itself, since several additional design considerations must be taken into account to ensure proper functioning of the finished product, such as inductive losses and parasitic capacitance affecting the performance of analog and high speed digital circuits.
If after these considerations using a double sided circuit board is the right choice, then the advantages will really help your finished circuit stand out and be more functional.
