General to Provide Versatile Optilab Vacuum Coater to the State University of New York
Bobst Group is pleased to announce the recent sale of a multi-purpose General OptiLab sputter vacuum coater to the Center for Advanced Micro-electronics Manufacturing (CAMM), managed by the State University of New York at Binghamton, in partnership with Endicott Interconnect Technologies and Cornell University.
This latest version of General's OptiLab vacuum coater adds to the list of OptiLabs already in North America which are being used to develop and manufacture the latest 21st century optical, photo-voltaic and micro-electronic devices.
The bi-directional General OptiLab roll-to-roll vacuum coater was selected by CAMM not only for its versatility and ability to operate in a clean room environment, but also for its function in both contact and non-contact mode, with interleaf wind and unwind, providing for a variety of sources, including PECVD which will be used in CAMM's R&D efforts.
The coater is able to run a range of coating technologies with the facility to include a range of different web treatment techniques, including medium frequency AC plasma pre-treatment on films ranging from 12 - 188 micron. The OptiLab can also monitor coatings 'on-line' via a tri-range resistance monitor.
The General OptiLab vacuum coater can process web widths up to 500mm, with a maximum roll diameter of 400mm, running at speeds from 0.01m to 20m/min. It may also have a maximum of 4 sputter zones, in combinations of single and dual cathodes, planar and rotatable magnetron sputtering, in reactive and non-reactive configurations.
A high accuracy Servo drive system provides advanced web handling, precise process monitoring and control for superior uniformity and product quality for metallic or oxide coatings. Its bi-directional winding system enables multi-layer coatings to be deposited simultaneously, without breaking the vacuum.
The compact design of the machine means reduced floor space and the possibility of installation in a wide range of locations. An intuitive software interface enables easy interaction with the control system for rapid process configuration, data input & retrieval and process monitoring.
This OptiLab will be installed in a clean room facility at the CAMM, located at Endicott Interconnect Technologies in Endicott, NY, where research and development will be conducted for the next generation of micro-electronic devices on flexible substrates.
The CAMM is an 'academic-industry-government' R&D center established by award from the United States Display Consortium to Binghamton University, Endicott Interconnect Technologies and Cornell University. The CAMM will demonstrate the feasibility of roll-to-roll (R2R) electronics manufacturing by acquiring prototype tools and establishing processes capable of producing low volume test bed products. The CAMM will address R2R fundamental enabling technologies, sciences and system design (integration, performance, yield and manufacturing feasibility) issues.
Potential application areas include medical diagnostics and treatment, military and homeland security, flexible displays, electronics, solar, computer and telecommunications.
"On behalf of our industrial partners and the academic community, we are pleased to be collaborating with General Vacuum Equipment (GVE) on this project due to the excellence of their technical offering and their reputation as an effective organization," stated Dr. Bahgat Sammakia, Director of the CAMM.
"The OptiLab will be an integral part of our prototype line to develop new processes for manufacturing electronic components on a roll-to-roll basis," he confirmed.
