Customize Wafer Handling Equipment Specializing in Non-Standard Wafers
www.chadindustries.net
Hoists, kiosks, storage cabinets, Wafer loading, carriers; Class 100
www.MEIllc.com/Cleanroom_Equipment
Leading Wet Bench Manufacturer Buy Fully-Automated MEMS Equipment
www.amerimade.com/mems-tools
Industrial and Commercial Supplies Huge Selection at Low Prices!
www.globalindustrial.com
High Temperature Bake Cassettes SEMI standard - Delivered Worldwide
www.palbamclass.com
Used/refurbished/warrantied Large in stock inventory, buy/sell
www.bidservice.com
Manufacture Storage & Wet Process Equipment for production and R&D
www.futurefab.com
Supplier of materials and machinery for the surface-mount packaging industry that focuses on products that protect components from physical and electrostatic damage.
www.advantek.com
Provider of engineering services such as tool and die, machining, metal and thin-film stamping equipment.
www.auerprecision.com
Supplier of automated wafer handlers, inspection equipment and a complete line of wafer transfer systems.
www.beltecsales.com
Manufacturer of electronic materials handling equipment and semiconductor packaging. Products are sold to the electronics industry.
www.containerware.com
Manufacturer of wafer handling robotics and prealigners for use in OEM applications as well as complete turnkey wafer sorters with wafer ID reading capability for the end user market.
www.cybeq.com
Manufacturer of silicon wafer dicing saws. Provider of retrofit services for older dicing saws. Reseller of air-bearing spindles. Products are sold to the semiconductor industry. This company was capitalized by private investment.
www.diamondtouch.com
Manufacturer of precision air-bearing positioning components and systems such as air-bearing spindles, linear slides, spin stand platforms and more.
www.doverinstr.com
Suppliers of wafer carriers and wafer handling machinery and more.
www.dynamixcosmo.com
Specialist in plastic transport, processing and shipping cassettes for semiconductor wafers and magnetic disk media.
www.elcontco.com
Manufacturer of recycled process cassettes as well as storage and shipping containers. Products and services are sold to the semiconductor and computer industries. This company was capitalized by private investment.
www.elcontco.com
Manufacturer of precision hand tools for the electronics industry, including tweezers.
www.excelta.com
Manufacturer of wafer handling tools such as vacuum wands, manual wands (wafer tweezers), vacuum pumps, tubing and ESD safe products for the semiconductor industry.
www.fluoro.co.jp
Specializes in four point probing equipment that satisfy a wide range of resistivity measurement requirements.
www.four-point-probes.com
Manufacturer of materials and carrier systems that are designed to protect sensitive devices during transport, procesing, inspection and assembly. The company's propritary elastomer technology serves as the basis of the films, trays and carrier...
www.gelpak.com
Manufacturer of dispensing equipment, advanced circuitry material handling equipment, aqueous cleaners and testing systems.
www.gpd-global.com
Manufacturer of photoresist application and developing equipment, wafer scrubbers, photoresist solvent hazardous-fluid dispensing systems and laboratory vapor cleaners. The company also provides custom engineering design services. Products and...
www.headwayresearch.com
Manufacturer of docking systems, test head positioners, interface and related products.
www.intest.com
Manufacturer of handlers, taping machines and other systems in semiconductor process operations.
www.ismeca.com
A supplier of probe cards and card-to-tester interfaces to semiconductor companies.
www.jemam.com
A sales/resale/lease and service provider of automatic test equipment (ATE)which includes wafer probers, device handlers for product testing.
www.jmcserv.com
Supplier of wafer fabrication equipment and services including etch products and chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) product and applications.
www.lamrc.com
Manufacturer of semiconductor test equipment and microscope accessories specializing in motorized stages, Z-axis controllers, wafer handlers, XY stage controllers, XY joysticks, robots, power supplies and related software. The software runs on ...
www.ludl.com
Manufacturer of wafer handling equipment such as loading transfer tools, flat and notch finders, slide tranfers, diffusion furnace loader, pneumatic/electric linear loading transfer tools and more.
www.mactronix.com
Manufacturer of automated wafer handling systems and silicon substrates used to make semiconductors. Products include gallium arsenide, beryllia, ceramic, sapphire, ferrite, alumina, composite, plastic, quartz polished, graphite, fused silica, ...
www.mactronix.com
Experienced third party oganization that provides maintenance, repair, installation, upgrades, parts, retrofits, and refurbishments of Electroglas Wafer Probers
www.martekprober.com
Manufacurer of integrated circuit (IC) handling equipment for the semiconductor industry.
mct.com
Manufacturer of wafer transfer equipment, including one-button operation, patented mechanical technology, pick and place programs for the insertion of test or baffle wafers, and lot tracking wafer management software.
www.mgielectronics.com
Manufacturer of analytical probe stations and wafer handlers for the semiconductor industry.
www.micromanipulator.com
Specialist in standard and semicustom automated systems for dispensing, soldering, gasketing, conformal coating and pick and place assembly.
www.nptinc.com
Manufacturer of extruded aluminum magazines for wafer slice handling equipment for the semiconductor industry.
www.perfection-products.com
Manufacturer of semiconductor testing and wafer probe measuring equipment. Also a manufacturer of multilayer, double-sided and single-sided printed circuit boards. Products are sold to the semiconductor industry.
www.pycon.com
Manufacturer of conveyorized electrically heated furnaces and dryers with controlled atmosphere used for electronics manufacturing and of wafer track/photoresist systems. This company was capitalized by private investment.
www.sierratherm.com
Manufactures semiautomatic and manual probe stations for engineering and failure analysis of semiconductor devices.
www.signatone.com
Manufacturer of a multitude of wafer handling and inspection products, probe systems, flip chip bonders, substrate bonders, spin coaters and others.
www.suss.com
Provider of turnkey clean-room automation systems for wafer/disk handling, testing and visual inspection applications.
www.ultracision.com
Distributor of Regine Switzerland precision tweezers and pliers for industrial and scientific applications.
www.uni-fit.com
Manufacturer of tape-and-reel machines and modular automatic component handlers (M.A.C.H.s).
www.vtekusa.com
Manufacturer of wafer processing equipment. Products are sold to the electronics, semiconductor, microelectronics, disk drive plating and decontamination industries.
www.waferprocess.com
Manufacturer, distributor of test products and wafer level solutions for the semiconductor industry, micro-probing, production test and interface applications.
www.wentworthlabs.com
Provider of environmental test handlers, including designs to handle semiconductor packages.
www.wtshandlers.com
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Customize Wafer Handling Equipment Specializing in Non-Standard Wafers
www.chadindustries.net
Hoists, kiosks, storage cabinets, Wafer loading, carriers; Class 100
www.MEIllc.com/Cleanroom_Equipment
Leading Wet Bench Manufacturer Buy Fully-Automated MEMS Equipment
www.amerimade.com/mems-tools
Using semiconductor wafer equipment is required for some jobs in the electronics manufacturing industry, as well as computer chip design. In addition to general mechanical and electrical engineering knowledge, you'll need to know cleanroom procedures to use wafer handling equipment for semiconductors.
You can find information about wafer handling though classes, online or by attending industry events. However, many jobs dealing with wafer handling require electrical engineering degrees. If you're considering getting wafer handling equipment for semiconductors education and training, think about the following:
- Take classes at a college or trade school to learn how to operate wafer handling equipment.
- Attend workshops, conferences and trade shows to learn about the latest and greatest wafer equipment technology advances.
- Learn more about wafer handling equipment operation and procedures online.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Enroll in electrical or mechanical engineering classes to learn more about wafer handling systems
Many electrical engineering programs and some mechanical engineering classes cover wafer handling procedures and equipment. This type of instruction generally includes clean room precautions, wafer handling equipment operation and may also include wafer equipment repair and design. Depending on what type of program you enroll in, the classes will focus on either the hardware or software aspect of the equipment. Many classes will also provide electrical engineering certification.
I recommend: Take the SemiZone Cleanroom Protocol class covering wafer handling equipment operation in a clean room environment, or enroll in the electrical engineering program at the University of Washington.
Go to wafer handling system conferences, trade shows and workshops to continue your education
Industry events like trade shows, conferences and seminars can help you learn more about emerging wafer handling system technologies and new wafer handling tools. Workshops allow you to learn new installation, repair and operation skills and brush up on old ones. In addition, industry events allow you to discuss problems and solutions with others in your industry. Some events will also provide certification for specific skills in the industry.
I recommend: Get training in wafer handling systems and wafer transfer tools at events listed by the American Electronics Association, or attend the IEEE International Interconnect Technology Conference to take one of their workshops on wafer handling.
Learn more about wafer handling equipment online
You can learn more about wafer handling equipment and the manufacturing process with online resources. Industry associations and wafer manufacturers often have educational information, including videos, articles and diagrams, on the production process and equipment required. You can learn basics, like how wafer handling equipment is used during manufacturing, or simply concentrate on a single aspect of the process.
I recommend: Learn how wafer handling equipment is used in the manufacturing process with the educational guide to Silicon Wafer Production Process at Covalent Materials Corporation, or check out the Single Crystal Growing for Wafer Production article at SiliconFarEast.com.
Use wafer handling equipment for semiconductors to work faster and prevent defects created by bending or scratching. Tools range from tweezers to vacuums and robots. Since each process is unique, it’s important to find the tools best suited for your needs. Equipment designed for working with thin circular wafers doesn’t necessarily work well with thicker materials. You also want to look for tools that avoid scratching, and thus damaging, the fragile wafers.
Wafer handling equipment is also an asset when it comes to packing and unpacking the sensitive products. Find the semiconductor wafer tools to best suit your business by:
1. Looking at semiconductor wafer equipment to assess size, speed and accuracy in product output.
2. Comparing wafer handling systems to see which ones would work best for your business.
3. Purchasing wafer handling tools that are precise and durable.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Find a distributor who offers wafer handling equipment for semiconductors
A distributor assesses your situation and offers you the best tools for you to optimize production in your wafer handling. Distributors know the sizes of the wafer handling tweezers and wafer transfer tools you might need because of their vast experience in the industry. Vendors also offer solutions you might not have otherwise heard about.
I recommend: NetMotion, Incorporated offers a unique design for tweezers called the Incorporated Manual Wand for Semiconductor Wafer Handling. It handles wafers without scratching or excessive touching which might damage the final product. The distributors at Ted Pella, Inc. carry vacuum handling tools for wafers, replacing tweezers. They handle wafers up to 12 inches and run for three to four hours continuously per charge—a recharge takes two hours.
Consider purchasing a wafer handling robot to speed up your production process
Use a robot for semiconductor wafer handling to decrease defects yielded by human interaction. A decrease in damage equals an increase in productivity.
I recommend: Genmark Automation, Inc. designs, develops and manufactures high-precision robotics including vacuum robots. The robots transport single or dual wafers and work in various reach and vertical combinations. If you are looking for a robot that does aligning, consider a robot model from Asyst Technologies, Inc. They have wafer pre-aligner robots that find the precise center of the wafer and the exact orientation of its notch.
Purchase semiconductor wafer tools best suited to the tasks you require
Wafer handling tweezers and vacuums for wafer handling come in various sizes so it's important to purchase the right ones for the job. Look for tweezers with a high Cobalt content to ensure strength and ensure that the tweezers aren't corrosive or magnetic.
I recommend: Virtual Industries, Inc. offers a vacuum system that one or two operators could use at the same time. Operators appreciate the way they have the option of using two vacuum tips of different sizes at the same time. When working with wet and dry substrates, consider MultiMetrixs products. They produce a refined line of edge-grip products along with innovative edge-grip aligners.
Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide
- • Consider purchasing a surplus wafer handling system to cut business expenses.
In the semiconductor manufacturing industry, wafer is a critical component, as it forms the substrate for creating electronic circuits and performing other processes. It is important for manufacturers to use reliable wafer handling equipment while moving the wafers from one process to another. A variety of wafer handling equipment is available in the market for different applications.
This guide will introduce you to some key terms related to semiconductor wafer handling equipment, such as vacuum wands, tweezers, vacuum pens, cassettes and clean room robots.
Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done
Vacuum wands
A vacuum wand is a useful and reliable tool that can pick up a wide range of wafers. Vacuum wands can have tips of steel or other materials and have nozzles and suction cups as per the application requirements.
I recommend: You can read through the definition of vacuum wand in the glossary at M+W Zander, a provider of industrial solutions.
Titanium tweezers
Titanium tweezers or wands are non-magnetic, non-corrosive and heat-resistant tools that are very useful in handling silicon chips or wafers. In titanium tweezers, the solder does not stick to the tip of the tweezers, making it a great choice.
I recommend: You can learn more about titanium tweezers at Ted Pella, Inc., a manufacturer of microscopy products. You can also find useful information on tweezers at Excelta Corporation, supplier of precision hand tools.
ESD protection
Wafers can get electrostatic discharge protection through tools such as ESD safe tubes. These tubes can suppress the voltage and protect circuits during transit from one place to another.
I recommend: You can learn more about ESD protection at Semtech Corporation, a leading supplier of semiconductor products.
Vacuum pens
A vacuum pen operates on the principle of suction and it can handle semi-conductor wafers delicately. Air pincette is another name by which vacuum pens are popular.
I recommend: For further explanation about vacuum pens, read through information at Yonsha, a manufacturer of vacuum equipment.
Cassettes
A wafer handling cassette is a tool that is mounted over wafer frames and can hold up to 25 wafers. It is usually made of polypropylene or teflon. The cassette design allows uniform distribution of heat over the wafer surface.
I recommend: You can find the definition of the cassette at the glossary at IC Knowledge, a knowledge provider for the semiconductor industry.
Clean room robots
Clean room robots are useful in the semiconductor industry due to their ability of handling fragile and complex components, such as wafers and chips.
I recommend: You can get more information about clean room robots at Robotics Online, a website that provides information about robotics and automation.
