This is an old revision of the document!
For questions/comments send e-mail to JohnDMcMaster <at> gmail.com
Wish list:
| Item | Needed/suggested (USD) | Why | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sponsor a chip image! | 20-100 | Moar data! | Non-commercial only, you provide IC. Usually top metal as delayering requires some to a lot more work |
| Keep the lights on | 75/year | Prevent canceling website when I need beer money | Free hosting offers are appreciated but will be politely turned down |
| Colloidial silica | 100 | Better polishing | Old batch is old/dirty and getting low on it |
| Real SSL cert | 200/year | Makes your browser happy | Tried StartSSL but they didn't get back to me |
| SEM filaments | 200/box | Required for SEM imaging | Support your or another project |
| Second (quality) CNC microscope operational | 500 | Increased throughput | See below |
| Mitutoyo Plan Apo 50x objective | 800? | Better images, relieves imaging constraints | Assuming one pops up on eBay. Olympus 50x ULWD clearance issues |
| Confocal microscope | 2,000 | Much easier automated polygon capture | Typical industrial auction price |
| Better lapping machine | 2,000 | Faster/better/safer delayering | Used price |
| Gold sponsor | 1000 | Because you love me? Selfish advertising? | Get your company logo on the site? |
The server isn't free, the equipment isn't, and my time is limited. I enjoy sharing information but its encouraging to know people appreciate it. If you donate I'll be more than happy to help you out by working on an article of your choice or imaging something of your choice.
If you have some interesting chips I'd probably take them to image as well. Be warned though I have quite a stockpile (ie backlog) of chips already but I'd like to help others out to spread interest. Be warned that I'm less likely to help you gratis if you have commercial interests
Sponsoring a chip
Consumables used for typical decap + top metal image:
- Dremel wheel
- Acid (typically H2SO4 or WFNA)
- Solder paste
- Filtered canned air
- Acetone
- IPA
- Deionized water
- Paper towels
- Gloves
- Electricty
- Stuff ocassionally breaks! (eg glassware)
Time invested into every chip:
- Trim package
- Remove paddle
- Remoe epoxy
- Remove bond wires
- Clean
- Level for imaging
- Image
- Find image features
- Optimize image alignment
- Stitch images
- Upload images
None of these are bad by itself but add up. The equipment also ain't cheap and would love it if someone could help me offset the costs. Also it adds up to a few hours per chip to go from epoxy package to stitched image
Delayering ranges from dangerous to very time consuming. HF will work decently for most single metal chips but is a little dangerous to work with even at low concentrations. Also at least a couple of hours work for good results. Lapping generally produces good results but is very time consuming, say 8+ hours of work.
SEM imaging will most likely require a fee since there are so many consumables involved
Second microscope
Would not have all the accessories like the current one has or use Apo objectives but would be pretty darn close if I got wishlist below
Have:
- Heavy duty motorized XY stage w/ rotary encoders + glass linear encoders
- Motor controllers
- Spare high quality microscope base for XY stage
- BH2-BHMJ column
- Most of a BH2-UMA illuminator
- Unused NeoSPlan objectives
- Extra STM32 to turn into indexer
- Microscope cameras but would require writing more Linux drivers
- Laptop
- Lamphouse power supply
- Leveling mechanism: use that large newport one
Need:
- BH2-UMA missing BH2-UCLW (~$100) + BH2-LH50A (~$200)
- A lower quality illuminator would discourage its use
- MU800 camera ($210)
- A table in the garage ($50? free on craigslist?)
- Machine BHMJ-XY stage base adapter piece ($50)
- Misc pieces like cables, breakout boards, etc ($50)