Specific Process Knowledge/Back-end processing/Disco Saw

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Disco Automatic dicing saw, model DAD321 (old) and DAD3241 (new 2021)

The dicers feature versatile processing capabilities, compact designs, and high precision and reliability. Users perform workpiece loading, alignment, and unloading manually.

The dicers at DTU Nanolab is placed in room 157 on the first floor in bldg. 346. Please notice that this is not a cleanroom and that the dicing process is very dirty.

Dicer positioned on 1. floor bldg 346 room 157

In general it is not allowed to bring back your samples into the Cleanroom. You need approval from DTU Nanolab staff to do this. Your samples have to be thoroughly cleaned in the gowning area and get a Piranha cleaning. You will only be allowed to use a limited number of tools for the processing after dicing.

Please consider your layout of dies on your wafer. The dicer can only cut straight lines across the wafer and you can not end a line in the middle of the wafer. Please see the illustrations for a good and a bad design.

GOOD design - simple GOOD design - complex BAD design
Good design Good design BAD design
GOOD design - simple GOOD design - complex BAD design


The user manual, user APV, technical information and contact information can be found in LabManager:

Process information


Overview of the performance Disco DAD 321 and DAD 3241 Dicer

Dicer positioned on 1. floor bldg 346 room 157
Purpose Dicer

DAD 321 (old)|

DAD 3241 (new 2021)|

Purpose Equipment for dicing out samples
  • Pyrex/Borofloat
  • Fused Silica
  • Silicon-Carbide (SiC)
  • Silicon bonded to Pyrex/Borofloat
  • Silicon bonded to Silicon
  • Pure Silicon samples
  • Pure Silicon samples
  • Pyrex/Borofloat
  • Silicon bonded to Silicon
  • Silicon bonded to Pyrex/Borofloat
Performance X-axis cutting range

192 mm

210 mm

X-axis cut speed

0.1 - 300 mm/sec

0.1 - 800 mm/sec

Y-axis cutting range

162 mm

210 mm

Y-axis index step

0.0002 mm

0.0001 mm

Y-axis single error

0.003 or less

0.002 or less

Substrates Substrate size

up to 6"

up to 8"

Layers that can't be diced
  • Thick metal (>0.75 mm)
  • III-V samples
  • Thick metal (>0.75 mm)
  • III-V samples
Accessories Accessories for wafer handling
  • Manual wafer mounter for blue tape
  • Manual wafer mounter for tape with backside foil (Powatec P200)
  • Automatic Wafer cleaning station (Disco DCS 1441)
  • UV curing station (Powatec U200)


Comparing dicing parameters for different materials DAD 321

Do not mix blades for the DAD 321 with the blades for the DAD 3241. They have different outer diameters

Silicon Pyrex or bonded Si/Pyrex
Bladetype HUB Blade ZH05 (27HEEF) HUBless Blade B1A862
Blade width 50 µm 150 µm
Cutlinewidth 60 µm 180 - 200 µm
Recommended feed speed Up to 20 mm/sec Up to 2 mm/sec (0.5 mm/sec)
Recommended dice depth Set blade height to 200µm (preferred).
This leaves 125µm uncut since blue tape is 75µm.
It is possible to cut through the sample.
Do not cut deeper than 500 µm in each pass (for fused Silica and SiC 200 µm).

If you have thicker wafers then use several passes decreasing the blade height for each pass.
For 500 µm thick wafers set blade height to 200µm (preferred).
This leaves 125µm uncut since blue tape is 75µm.
It is possible to cut through the sample.

Max. sample thickness 1.5 mm 2.0 mm

Comparing dicing parameters for different materials DAD 3241

Do not mix blades for the DAD 321 with the blades for the DAD 3241. They have different outer diameters

Silicon Other materials
Bladetype HUB Blade Ask! (HUBless)
Blade width 50 µm ask
Cutlinewidth 50 µm ask
Recommended feed speed Up to 40 mm/sec ask
Recommended dice depth We usually cut all way through the wafer with a blade height of 50µm (preferred).
ask!
Max. sample thickness 1.5 mm 2.0 mm

Images of diced samples

Si V-groove diced with ZH05 blade