Flexible Hand-Free Microelectronics assembly Line for the Chip and Wire industry

Abstract

This paper presents Natel's effort in pioneering the design and development of the first Touch-Free Microelectronics assembly Line for the Chip and Wire industry. When the Surface Mount Technology (SMT) industry first started, it began as a series of discrete pieces of equipment that performed the functions required to populate Circuit Cards. Over the years, the technology has evolved as has the industry such that fully integrated, automated lines are available where the circuit cards are installed at one end of the line, reels or tubes of components, such as packaged resistors, inductors, capacitors and semiconductors etc., loaded, the machine programmed and assembled circuit cards are available at the other end. However, no such line has been developed for the Chip and Wire industry, with most assembly houses still using individual stand alone die attach, bonders, plasma clean machines to populate substrates. Natel has developed the first of its kind integrated Auto line for the Chip and Wire industry, which conceptually replicates a SMT line. This Auto Line is touch–free and incorporates die attach ( including eutectic), ball and ribbon bonding , plasma clean and in line testing. The line is ideal for high volume production of Hybrid and Microwave Integrated Circuits. The obvious advantages of this approach are the “ hands-free” continuous flow aspect with significant reduction in product defects, increase in efficiency and cost reduction thereby increasing competitiveness against low labor rate overseas operations. This paper will provide details of the line, and discuss what additional capabilities can be added and hopefully promote the future development of the Chip and Wire industry built on this pioneering development.