FR1 PCB Products Expertly Made in China

PCBMAY – The Best FR1 PCB Maker

Designing your own FR1 PCB is possible if you want custom orders. PCBMay can confidently follow your Gerber file. Alternatively, you can trust our experienced engineers to design one for your project. PCBMay’s dedicated team will make sure of the following:

• Correctly treated phenolic epoxy treated paper for copper cladding
• Crossing not used, every line with dedicated path
• Stay in glass transition tempt (Tg) of 130C
• Best practices in soldering followed
• Conform to ≤1.6mm thickness

When you give us your design, it will take us only a few days to complete your orders. This may depend if you want a huge order, or if you only need a few key pieces. PCBMay does not have a minimum amount for new orders. You can ask as many or few as you want.

If the product you need is a huge volume, we will eagerly give you a free sample. We want to make sure that we are serving you right!

In addition, PCBMay will give you a Work-in-Progress report as your order is in progress. We do not only make Single-sided FR1 PCBs, we make FR, FR3 PCBs, and Multilayer PCBs. Different surface finishes are available.

So, you’ve got that right! PCBMay is a highly qualified, trustworthy brand in China. Not only are we fit for your budget, but we are also the best when it comes to product safety and excellence.

Give us a call now! PCBMay is always available, 24/4. Our accommodating sales staff will adjust to your time zone.

Let PCBMay be your partner in business success.

FR1 PCB: The Ultimate FAQ Guide

FR1 PCB is an effective edition of the printed circuit board’s world. The FR1 circuits are widely used in a variety of applications for a huge number of benefits. FR1 is durable, reliable as well as affordable.

For single-layer circuit boards, FR1 PCBs are the best choice. Here PCBMay offers the consultation, design, and proper fabrication of FR1 PCB at a budget-friendly price range. They also have services for circuit board customization.

What Is FR1 PCB?

FR1 PCB is a circuit board where FR stands for Flame Retardant. This FR1 printed circuit board is a glass fiber epoxy laminate. Copper layers were placed on the FR1 circuit above the non-conductive phenolic resin.

So far, FR1 PCBs are cost-effective as well as compact. For this reason, FR1 PCB boards are commonly used in various applications.

FR1 PCB

What Are The Construction Materials Of FR1 PCB?

The main FR1 PCB materials are thin layers of copper and non-conductive phenolic resin. All components are mounted on the copper layers. Then copper layers are placed on the resin layer.

For a single layer of multilayer circuit boards, these 2 are the essential material to construct an effective FR1 PCB.

Copper Clad

What Is The FR1 PCB Components Mounting Method?

The FR1 components are mounted by using 2 methods. Such as:

Surface-mount technology (SMT)

The surface-mount technology is the most common electronic assembly way to fabricate the FR1 PCB components. In this technique, the PCB components are placed directly on the surface of the circuit board.

The components like capacitors, LEDs, resistors, diodes, etc are inserted for conventional assembly. They have pins of different styles that create a flat contact with the PCB surface.

The surface-mount technology increases the effectiveness of passive components assembly.

Surface Mount Technology

Through-hole technology

Another effective method is to mount FR1 components in through-hole technology.

Where components are placed into the circuit through holes. Initially, holes are drilled on the PCB boards. These holes make a strong bond of components with the circuit board.

Usually, the Connectors, Transformers, and Semiconductors are mounted using this through-hole method.

PCBMay has services for both types of component mounting techniques.

Does FR1 PCB Support High Voltage Components?

Usually, FR1 circuit boards don’t support high voltage components. As the FR1 laminate is designed by cardboards that are suspected of electric shocks.

Using high voltage components may lead to subsequent destruction and flaws of the circuit boards.

FR1 PCB Blank

What Are The Advantages Of FR1 PCB?

The FR1 PCB provides the following advantages –

Mechanical Strength

The FR1 circuits are drilled mechanically to place the components. That creates a strong bond between the circuit and the PCB components. Again, ensures the highest precision of performance of the circuit board.

Cost-Effectiveness

The FR1 PCB boards are fabricated using cardboards. They are less costly and easy to assemble. For this reason, the manufacturing cost and labor cost will be reduced than other PCB boards fabrications.

Compact Size

The copper traces of FR1 PCB boards can carry a lot of components in a small place. So the circuit will not be bulkier. The FR1 circuits are compact so that they are used to manufacture small devices with full efficiency.

High Performance

FR1 provides long-term efficiency without any degradation. Also has very low electrical noise. The quality and the reliability are able to satisfy the customers.

High-Performance FR1 PCB

Eco-friendly

The FR1 circuit board is considered an environmentally friendly PCB. The Fr1 PCBs are Halogen-free circuit boards.  Additionally, they do not contain any harmful elements that may be harmful to the environment.

At the same time, safe for the people who used the FR1 PCB devices.

Is There Any Limitation On FR1 PCB?

Besides several benefits, the FR1 circuit has limitations also. The FR1 PCBs usually work under lower temperatures. Many devices require high-temperature options. Where the FR1 circuit is not suitable.

Additionally, the moist resistant capacity is quite poor.

Which Software Is Used To Design FR1 PCBs?

Different kinds of software are used to design FR1 circuit boards based on the application demands. The KiCAD software is the most common one to design FR1 PCB boards effectively.

Also, Orcad, CircuitMarker, Fritzing, etc are used for the FR1 circuit designing process.  PCBMay offers a huge number of software varieties to design effective FR1 circuit boards.

Circuit Design By KiCAD Software

What Are The Quality Standards For FR1 PCB?

FR1 PCBs must follow several standards to ensure the quality of the circuit boards. The FR1 quality standards are –

RoHS Compliant

RoHS Compliant standard comes from European Unions that prohibits hazardous substances like Pb, Hg, Cd, PBB, CrVI, four types of phthalates, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, etc. These are harmful to human health also.

In order to keep safe the devices for people which are made by FR1 circuit, the manufacturer must follow the RoHS compliant standards.

Watch this video to learn more about RoHS Compliant –

CE

CE is also a European Union’s standard that ensures the circuit is fabricated by maintaining several factors. The main factors are environment friendly, safety and health.

ISO

ISO standard ensures the requirements of customers. It’s a famous certification for products.

ISO Standard FR1 PCB

CCC

CCC standards are specially for China’s imported products. It ensures the FR1 circuit is safe to use and adheres to quality standards.

PCBMay strictly follows all of the standards during the manufacturing of FR1 circuits.

Are There Any Differences Between FR1 And CEM1 PCB?

Yes, there are several differences between FR1 and CEM1 PCB boards. FR1 PCB is made of phenolic resin where CEM1 is made by woven glass fabric.

Again, FR1 PCBs are mostly used for single layer PCB and CEM1 is used for multilayer PCB fabrication.

CEM1 PCB Board

What Are The Design Specifications For FR1 PCB?

Various software is used for designing FR1 PCBs. The manufacturer also maintain some design specifications for FR1 circuit boards such as

• First, you should design the blueprint of the PCB components in order to avoid hitches
• Leave 0.5 mm of allowance if the length of components is more than 10 mm
• Maintain the footprint rotation and keep eyes they can’t be mixed together
• You should pick the suitable size of the board to make them cost-effective
• For a 406 x 508 mm working area you will get up to 65% efficiency. Where 305 x 557 mm boards will provide 51% of efficiency
• Place the panel layout correctly to make a simple assembly process
• You should optimize the panel layout according to the supplier’s steps data
• Try to pick smaller panels as they are easy to repair and set
• Maintain 2 mm distance between 2 adjacent circuit boards
• Use tab routing to get a smooth finishing circuit board
• You should use 0.5 mm copper on the FR1 PCB edges
• Never use 1 mm edges of the circuit boards
• The FR1 PCB components should place 2 mm of distances from each other
• Avoid V-score breakouts
• The PCB components keep 2 mm far away from the top of the V-score
• You should use three global fiducials for the panel border
• Make a proper balance with the layer count and copper traces
• Define the copper weight based on the application requirements
• Use similar orientation for all of the components
• Set the components on the primary side of the circuit boards
• You should use a part number for the FR1 circuit board
• Maintain the standard ratio of 8:1 for thicker PCB boards
• Specify the safe handling and maintaining specifications
• Specify the components during the manufacturing process

FR1 PCB Panel

How Is The FR1 Manufactured?

To manufacture an effective FR1 PCB, you should have done 16 stages. Here we are going to discuss the complete manufacturing process of FR1 PCBs.

Let’s dive in-

Step 1 – Planning And Design

The first and foremost step is the proper planning for circuit boards. Also ensures the appropriate environment for the PCB design and fabrication. Most generally, Gerber is used for circuit board designing purposes.

It can encode necessary wording as well as check the algorithm to ensure there exist no errors in the code.

Step 2 – File To Film

Now it’s time to print out the design copy of the FR1 circuit board. PCB may use advanced technology for the filming process.

You will get a negative photo of the design. The black ink defines the copper which is conductive. And the clear part indicates the non-conductive materials of the circuit board.

Step 3 – Inner Layer Printing

Then you should focus on the image of the copper path. Then create a figure on the copper foil. Now time to create the PCB laminate using epoxy resin and glass fiber materials.

After that, use an alkaline solution to wash out the hard photoresist elements.

Step 4 – Remove Unwanted Copper

This time, the unnecessary coppers need to clean to get a spotless PCB board. Use a strong alkaline solution that is able to remove all unwanted coppers of the FR1 circuit board.

Step 5 – Aline The layers

After the cleaning process, you have to do the alignment of the PCB layers. The layers are pressed by the optical punch machine for the further fabrication process.

Step 6 -Layer Up

Now you should layer up the circuit layouts to create a strong mechanical bond. The fiberglass sheet is placed between the epoxy resin like a sandwich. Then covered by a copper foil for etching.

Step 7 – Drilling Process

In this step, holes are drilled on the stack-up layers in order to interconnect the layers. The diameter of the hole is an average of 100 microns.

For the drilling process, the drill machine uses X-ray to create holes in the right place. That will help to produce more precise holes onto the FR1 PCB board.

Step 8 – Plating

Chemical deposition happens in the planting stage. For washing the board, chemicals are placed by using a deposition machine.

Step 9 – Outer layer Imaging

For outer layer imaging, the PCB board goes through UV light for a period. The UV light will not make any effect on the photoresist area.

Step 10 – Electroplating

The electroplating is done by a thin layer of copper then repeated in step 8 again. It helps to remove unnecessary copper foil from the circuit board.

Step 11 – Etching

After the electroplating process, the etching is done for the last time. That also protects the copper layer.

FR1 PCB Etching

Step 12 – Apply Solder Mask

After planing and etching, the copper layer is coated with epoxy ink. Again the UV light is passed over the circuit to establish the solder mask.

Step 13 – Surface Finish

The surface finish is done in silver or gold. These both are considered as the best for PCB surface finish.

Step 14 – Silkscreening

In this step, the detailed information, test points, warning sign, taxes number all are placed on the FR1 circuit boards.

Step 15 – Electrical Test

The flying probe testing method is applied generally for the electrical test of the PCB boards. That test will ensure the quality standards of the printed circuit board.

Step 16 – Profiling And V-scoring

Here we have reached the final stage of the FR1 PCB manufacturing process. This time, cut the actual circuit board from the main panel. Then add the V-scoring, cut down the edges, and make them smooth as well as even.

Watch this video to learn more about the PCB manufacturing process –

What Is FR1 PCB Assembly?

To assemble an FR1 PCB board, you should arrange and place the elements properly. The components may assemble by using the surface mount technique or through-hole technique. Essential terms for this PCB assembly are-

Substrate

The main material of the FR1 circuit board is the phenolic resin which is non-conductive.

Copper

Every PCB board has copper layers. They are very thin but used for conduction. The copper layers are placed at one side of the circuit board. That is considered as the active side.

Solder Mask

The solder mask is the surface layout of the FR1 PCB boards. It is like the insulator between the PCB layers. The solder mask also ensures the components are placed and operate in the right place of the circuit.

FR1 PCB Solder Mask

Silkscreen

The advanced FR1 PCB must have a silkscreen layer. It acts like the final layer having the letters, test points, high voltage warning signs, LEDs, numbers, etc. These all symbols are essential to identify PCB components.

Manual Soldering

In the manual PCB soldering step, the manufacturer can insert specific components through the holes according to the application demands. It’s a complicated circle and needs more time than the steps.

What Is The Standard Thickness Of FR1 PCB?

The FR1 printed circuit board thickness is like two or three credit cards. The standard PCB thickness is about 1.6 mm where the copper foil thickness is 0.2 mm. The thickness of PCB boards may vary based on the application’s requirements.

Which Properties Affect The Performance Of FR1 PCB Materials?

To get the higher performance FR1 PCB, you should be concerned about some properties of the PCB materials. The following factors affect the performance of the FR1 PCB materials.

Decomposition Temperature (Td)

If the temperature exceeded the required limit, there is a chance of decomposition of the materials. After cooling the temperature some materials can’t restore their initial stage.

The FR1 materials can withstand 130 degrees Fahrenheit of temperature. So that the materials should have the decomposition temperature capacity.

Thermal Conductivity

The FR1 circuit materials must have thermal conductivity. When they come in contact with the conduct of heat, it needs to be transferred. The preferable thermal conductivity is 0.3W/Mk to 6W/Mk for FR1 circuit boards.

Glass Transition Temperature

The printed circuit board materials should have the glass transition temperature. The materials may be exposed during high temperatures, then able to come back at the previous stage. The glass transition temperature is 130 degrees Fahrenheit for FR1 circuits.

Is There Any Difference Between FR1 and FR4 PCB?

There are 2 fundamental differences in FR1 vs FR4 PCB. The construction material of FR1 PCB is phenolic resin where the FR4 PCB is made by the combination of epoxy resin binder and the woven fiberglass cloth. That makes FR1 circuit boards flame resistant.

In addition, the FR1 is appropriate for single-sided circuit boards. And the FR4 is suitable for single to multilayer printed circuit boards.

FR4 PCB Board

What Are The Differences Between FR1 With FR2, And FR3 PCB?

The FR1 and FR2 PCB both are almost the same and work in a similar way. With FR3 the only difference is the construction materials. The FR1 is stacked up by cardboards where FR3 is made by an epoxy resin binder.

FR3 PCB Board

What Are The Applications Of FR1 PCB?

FR1 circuits provide a lot of benefits like chemical stability, high performance, lower price, etc. For these reasons, FR1 PCBs are used in thousands of commercial and industrial applications. Besides, FR1 is also considered the printed circuit component.

For example, FR1 PCBs are used in telecommunication, consumer electronics like mobile, computer, remote devices, military accessories, medical sectors application, and so on.

What Are The Specifications Of FR1 PCB?

The permittivity, humidity, and heat treatment are the main FR1 PCB specifications. These properties must have certain values for unique FR1 circuit boards. Around 5.3 is the maximum value of permittivity. It will increase up to 5.8 when it is immersed in water.

Again the humidity and heat resistance is MIN:5.0*103511.

High-Temperature FR1 PCB

Is FR1 PCB Moisture Resistant?

The circuit boards should have a moisture-resistant capacity. Because moisture can cause short circuits or sometimes be responsible for component damage. The FR1 PCB offers around 1.0*1010 moist resistant capacity.

Is FR1 Appropriate For Multilayer PCB Stackup?

FR1 PCB is mostly suitable for single-layer circuits fabrication. For multilayer PCB stackup, FR1 is not appropriate. Even the FR2 and FR3 are not suitable for their low heat-resistant capacity. For multilayer PCB fabrication, you should go for FR4 PCB.

Multilayer FR1 PCB Stackup

What Is The UL 94 Rating Of FR1 PCB?

The UL 94 rating of FR1 PCB is V-0. It defines the capacity of flammability as well as the maintenance of all safety standards. This rating indicates that the burning of the PCB materials stops within 10 seconds and there is no dripping allowed.

The PCB manufacturer has a UL mark that is used to define the rating of the PCB boards. It also defines the performance, long shelf life as well as circuit reliability.

How To Choose The Best FR1 PCB Manufacturer?

The stability and durability of FR1 PCB depend on the materials as well as components mounting technique. The overall quality depends on the manufacturer’s technology and processes.

The combination of the right manufacture and fabrication process can bring the best FR1 PCB boards.

But sometimes it seems difficult to find the best FR1 manufacturers who will fulfill all the requirements of your applications.

If you are concerned about the following factors, you can definitely choose the best one.

• Make sure the PCB boards are made of phenolic resin materials
• The circuit board should have an appropriate thickness
• Allow 2 types of components mounting process
• Ensures proper thermal conductivity
• Can withstand moistly and heat
• Provide testing and repairing facilities
• Follow all the safe handling requirements
• Provides customer services
• Offers product limited warranty

If you are tired of finding the best FR1 PCB manufacturer, you can keep faith in us. We provide above all facilities and produce high-quality FR1 PCBs.

Conclusion

FR1 PCB Boards are durable as well as efficient for a wide range of applications. At the same time, they are safe for people as well as the environment.

PCBMay will design with a good number of designing software, fabricating and maintaining all the quality standards. At the same time, they offer to customize the FR1 PCB material specification and components as well.

If you are looking for the best single-layer circuit boards, FR1 PCBs are the best options for you.