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High-precision foil successfully developed for SAM systems
A high-precision nickel foil which forms the core of a specialized process assurance tool has been manufactured by Tecan using advanced Photo-ElectroForming (PEF) technology.
Repeatable accuracy was an essential element when Towcester Technical Services was looking for a company capable of producing the foil templates used in its SAM-SURE Resolve Tool. The device enables quick, easy and regular checking of the resolution performance of Scanning Acoustic Microscopy (SAM) systems used in the microelectronics industry and potentially in other ultrasound applications such as medical.
“We had developed a unique and simple solution to maintaining consistency of results over time or with different SAM Equipments and transducer performances. It was essential that we found a supplier capable of absolute repeatability, which we did with Tecan,” said Tony Howard, founder, Towcester Technical Services. “We have designed a foil which contains an array of aperture features representative of the range of dimensions found in microelectronic components enabling SAM system users to employ our device to check the resolution of their own systems for consistency on a regular basis. The accuracy of the apertures in the foil is therefore crucial to SAM process system performance. We are confident in Tecan’s PEF process technology as it ultimately assures our customers’ confidence in us for the provision of assured repeatable results and process efficiency.”
The SAM-SURE Resolve device houses the nickel foil in a specially constructed holder built
to the highest engineering standards from corrosion resistant materials. The foil features highly accurate apertures down to 25 microns, increases the credibility of process control and QA, and helps SAM system users to meet ISO 9000 requirements, identify performance deterioration early and spot defective products. Tecan was there for the launch of The SAM-SURE Tools at the recent IMAPS Conference, Brugge, Belgium, in support of Tony Howard of TTS, who presented a paper entitled “Essential New Process Control Tools for Scanning Acoustic Microscopy”
Tecan’s PEF products can be produced as flat sheets, as flexible membranes, or in three-dimensional forms. Various surface textures include bright, semi-bright, matt, smooth or brushed finishes.
Ultra-fine metal parts, fabricated to previously unheard of levels of accuracy and resolution can be manufactured by the company across a raft of new-generation application arenas, where revolutionary concepts are now becoming a reality. Other micro-applications include sensors, actuators, hearing aids, medical devices, optical instruments, micro-lenses, meshes, masks, displays and micro-fluidic devices. Micro-parts can be manufactured to extremely small scale, with features, such as apertures, fluidic channels or raised lands, down to 2 microns and tolerances at sub-micron levels. Similarly, the company can produce larger parts, up to 600mm x 765mm, with equally fine resolutions.
The company employs a total design and engineering solution philosophy based on an extensive proven capability and is keen to solve individual problems - to deliver optimum custom solutions at minimum cost. The service encompasses prototype, initial production runs and quantity manufacture, as necessary.
“We had developed a unique and simple solution to maintaining consistency of results over time or with different SAM Equipments and transducer performances. It was essential that we found a supplier capable of absolute repeatability, which we did with Tecan,” said Tony Howard, founder, Towcester Technical Services. “We have designed a foil which contains an array of aperture features representative of the range of dimensions found in microelectronic components enabling SAM system users to employ our device to check the resolution of their own systems for consistency on a regular basis. The accuracy of the apertures in the foil is therefore crucial to SAM process system performance. We are confident in Tecan’s PEF process technology as it ultimately assures our customers’ confidence in us for the provision of assured repeatable results and process efficiency.”
The SAM-SURE Resolve device houses the nickel foil in a specially constructed holder built
to the highest engineering standards from corrosion resistant materials. The foil features highly accurate apertures down to 25 microns, increases the credibility of process control and QA, and helps SAM system users to meet ISO 9000 requirements, identify performance deterioration early and spot defective products. Tecan was there for the launch of The SAM-SURE Tools at the recent IMAPS Conference, Brugge, Belgium, in support of Tony Howard of TTS, who presented a paper entitled “Essential New Process Control Tools for Scanning Acoustic Microscopy”
Tecan’s PEF products can be produced as flat sheets, as flexible membranes, or in three-dimensional forms. Various surface textures include bright, semi-bright, matt, smooth or brushed finishes.
Ultra-fine metal parts, fabricated to previously unheard of levels of accuracy and resolution can be manufactured by the company across a raft of new-generation application arenas, where revolutionary concepts are now becoming a reality. Other micro-applications include sensors, actuators, hearing aids, medical devices, optical instruments, micro-lenses, meshes, masks, displays and micro-fluidic devices. Micro-parts can be manufactured to extremely small scale, with features, such as apertures, fluidic channels or raised lands, down to 2 microns and tolerances at sub-micron levels. Similarly, the company can produce larger parts, up to 600mm x 765mm, with equally fine resolutions.
The company employs a total design and engineering solution philosophy based on an extensive proven capability and is keen to solve individual problems - to deliver optimum custom solutions at minimum cost. The service encompasses prototype, initial production runs and quantity manufacture, as necessary.
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