How does 6 layers PCB board works? (Specification and process)

The Importance of a 6-Layer Board Stack up

The 6 layers PCB board is very economical and has a tremendous range of the applications. These types of the PCBs have the small size and high net count as compared to the other PCBs. While the 4 layers PCBs work efficiently with the larger boards. In these PCB boards, there is a lack of the signal layers. The reason behind it is to differentiate each side of the PCB board.

However, in the case of the 6 layers board it is easy to inculcate the EMI between the layers of the PCB. This process helps in the high count and small size properties of the PCB design. On the other hand, it is sometimes useful and economical to use the 4 layers PCB boards.

What is the need of signal planes and ground??

The correct answer to this question depends upon the requirements and the type of the applications. If you are wanting the denser PCB board, then can choose one power, one ground and the four signal planes.

The shielding effect of the ground planes is significantly important and high on the PCB boards. In this case, there is no need to practice the inelegant solutions like shielding cans. The use of the 6 layers PCB board is significantly important and wide in making the combination of the signals.

They have the innovative use in the combination of the digital and analogue signals. Moreover, they are also important in the combination of the low frequencies and high frequencies. There are different conditions in which we need more signal layer. We may also need a larger board for the different types of the applications.

There are many combinations for the signal layers or the plane layers of the 6 layers PCB boards. Some of these combinations’ details are there in this article.

What is Signal Layer?

This stack up of the 6 layers PCB boards is very popular and useful in the industry. It is very helpful in the provision of the shielding effect for the low speed traces. Moreover, it produces this shielding effect against the high-speed traces. It is particularly helpful in providing the compact and affirm coupling to the solid planes.

Characteristics

With the help of this stack, it is easy to route the signals with the lower frequency or slower switching speeds. These signal with the slower speeds is there on the inner layer of the PCB board. While the signals with the higher speeds, we can route them on the outer layer. The reason behind it is to shield them from the effect of each other.

How to make combination of the digital and analogue in 6pcb board?

In this stack up of the 6 layers PCB board, we cannot make the combination of the digital and analogue.  Until they are separate in the sections of PCB inner layer, this is not feasible. However, if we need the separate digital and analogue sections, we can use the 8 layers PCB boards. In this case, the 4 layers PCB board is also useful and advantageous.

In the case of the 8 layers PCB board, there we can find two plane layers. These two plane layers increase the efficiency of the board by providing the shielding effect. They shield the two internals layers from the effect of each other.

Problem with this stack up

There is a main problem with this stack up of the 6 layers PCB board. The problem is that there is no capacitance between the layers. This problem occurs between the ground layer and the power layer. As these two layers are separate, we will need more decaps in order to compensate.

Therefore, these types of the stack up are not much useful in the case of the high-speed digital signalling. If we use them, there would be problems in the decoupling process. Therefore, we need to make the plane boards larger in order to overcome this difficulty.

What is ground signal layer?

This stack up of the 6 layers PCB board is a good type for different types of the applications. It is essentially important in the mixing of the high speed and low speed signals. Moreover, it has the vast use in the shielding of the internal layer from the outer layer. It fulfils this responsibility in a good manner because there are two ground planes between the layers.

Characteristics

This type of the stack up is also significantly important in preventing the EMI from interfering with the internal signal layer. The reason is that the conductors used in the design are enough to produce much effective shielding. Moreover, the ground planes and power planes are also present close to each other. It helps in the production of the effective decoupling for many devices.

However, if we place the ground vias between the alternating ground/power/ground plane layers, it will help to reduce the EMI. It helps to suppress the EMI that radiates across the edges of the PCB board.

Problem with this stack up

There is a technical problem with this stack up in the process of manufacturing. The problem is that it provides the placement of the components on the outer or top layer only. The reason is that the placement on the bottom layer requires cutting of ground layer in order to make room.

Therefore, this process is not much easy and requires many precautions. Moreover, it also deals with many drilling activities during the process.

The Importance of a 6-Layer Board Stack up

The multilayer printed circuit boards have become the essential part of the design world today. There have been tremendous advancements in the technology and made the compactness of the circuits easy. The manufacturers are now able to inculcate many of the electronic components on a single board.

With the increasing advancements in the technology, there is a huge demand for the new and novel designs of the PCBs. The manufacturers have produced many designs and stack up of the multilayer PCB boards. These boards have a large part in the industrial applications and technological progress.

Why 6 layer pcb board is a technical process?

The process of formation of the multilayer PCB is a technical process. In this process, we have to take care about the arrangement of the electronic components. The design of the multilayer PCB is similar to making a large sandwich. The function of the multilayer PCB is to make the signals clean among the electronic components.

Conclusion

Once, the 6 layers PCB board was merely a way to inculcate more and more traces on the board. So, these boards were easy way to install the components that were not available in the case of two layer and four layers PCB boards. But in this advanced age, the correct and appropriate placement of the components had resulted in the enhanced efficiency of the PCB boards.

The reason behind it is that if we don’t configure correctly, the board is vulnerable to electromagnetic interference (EMI). This electromagnetic interference (EMI) cause the poor and decrease performance of the signal layers.