The present invention involves a method of grinding and polishing flat and thinning of hard and brittle materials such as silicon wafers, sapphire substrates and glass substrates, which belongs to the flat substrate ultra-precision machining technical field. It could also be used in the grinding and polishing process of flat thin substrates such as ceramics, metal and composite materials.
Ultra-precision surface processing and ultra-precision thinning processing of flat sheet-shaped substrates such as silicon, sapphire substrates, glass panels and ceramics, are usually processed by machining process such as grinding, lapping and polishing, which are achieved respectively by grinding tools, lapping tools and polishing tools. Grinding and lapping tools are used for the surface planarization processing of the substrate to make the substrate reach a predetermined thickness and to obtain a high-quality and high-flatness surface. Polishing tools are used for surface polishing of the substrate to remove the substrate grinding and lapping surface damage layer, where ultra-smooth surface substrates without damages are obtained. At present, in order to get lighter and thinner substrates, substrate thinning processing typically requires thinning thickness less than 30˜100 μm. When the substrate is thinned to a predetermined thickness after grinding, the substrate is removed from the grinding machine, and is then clamped to the polishing machine for polishing. During the conversion process from grinding to polishing, the grinding stress on the substrate surface will cause deformation of the substrate, which makes the substrate get broken more easily in the conversion process and re-clamping process. In addition, using two machine tools to process grinding and polishing respectively will result in large equipment investment and low production efficiency. Currently, common substrate grinding and polishing machine tools are usually dedicated grinding equipment. As for disc-shaped wafers, ultra-precision silicon wafer grinding machine is mainly used for wafer planarization processing and thinning processing and plane polishing machine for surface polishing. As for square-sheet glass panels, dedicated plane lapping tools are mainly used for planarization and thinning processing and plane polishing tools for surface polishing. These existing grinding and polishing tools are usually not available for many other different requirements of a substrate.
At present, in order to get lighter and thinner substrates, substrate thinning processing typically requires thinning thickness less than 30˜100 μm. When the substrate is thinned to a predetermined thickness after grinding, the substrate is removed from the grinding machine, and is then clamped to the polishing machine for polishing. During the conversion process from grinding to polishing, the grinding stress on the substrate surface will cause deformation of the substrate, which makes the substrate get broken more easily in the conversion process and re-clamping process. In addition, using two machine tools to process grinding and polishing respectively will result in large equipment investment and low production efficiency. Currently, common substrate grinding and polishing machine tools are usually dedicated grinding equipment. As for disc-shaped wafers, ultra-precision silicon wafer grinding machine is mainly used for wafer planarization processing and thinning processing and plane polishing machine for surface polishing. As for square-sheet glass panels, dedicated plane lapping tools are mainly used for planarization and thinning processing and plane polishing tools for surface polishing. These existing grinding and polishing tools are usually not available for many other different requirements of a substrate.
The technical problem to be solved in the invention is to overcome of inadequacies of the conventional grinding and polishing machine. A multifunction substrate grinding and polishing device and its method for the substrate grinding and polishing are invented. Double-spindle structure is used in the substrate grinding and polishing device where grinding and polishing of substrates such as silicon wafer, glass panels, ceramics and sapphire substrate can be done. After grinding, without unloading the substrate, the substrate moves from the grinding station directly into the polishing station waiting for the polishing process of a substrate. Many processing methods could be achieved in the device such as axial plunge grinding and polishing, radial plunge grinding and polishing and back grinding and polishing of wafer with outer rim. The grinding spindle unit and polishing spindle counterweigh mutually via a traction rope, sharing a motor driven feed mechanism and cylinder feed mechanism. Fixed stroke grinding and force control grinding could be realized during the grinding or polishing process of the substrate.
The invention, involving grinding and polishing flat processing and thinning processing of hard and brittle materials such as silicon wafer, sapphire substrate and the glass substrate, belongs to ultra-precision machining technical field and provides a multifunction substrate grinding and polishing device and method for the substrate grinding and polishing, which could be used in the grinding and polishing process of flat substrate such as ceramics, metal and composite materials. The grinding and polishing of substrate are processed in three ways: axial plunge grinding and polishing, radial plunge grinding and polishing and back grinding and polishing of wafer with outer rim. Double-spindle structure consisting of grinding spindle unit and polishing spindle unit is used in the substrate grinding and polishing device where both substrate grinding and polishing can be done. The grinding spindle unit and polishing spindle counterweigh mutually via a traction rope. Since the grinding machine and polishing machine are integrated in the substrate grinding and polishing device, the grinding process and polishing process could be finished in order with just one clamping of the substrate, which improves the precision of the substrate grinding and polishing and the automation of grinding and polishing process, reduces fragmentation and improves production efficiency.
Further scope of the applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description given hereinafter. However, it should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description.
The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description given hereinbelow and the accompanying drawings which are given by way of illustration only, and thus are not limitative of the present invention, and wherein:
The technical solution adopted by the invention is a multifunction substrate grinding and polishing device and its method, the grinding and polishing of substrate are processed in three ways.
1) When processing round sheet substrate with the method of axial plunge grinding and polishing, the substrate W to be processed is placed on the chuck 12, the table 3 driven by the feed mechanism 8 moves to the grinding spindle unit 18 below in the horizontal direction arrow b, the circle center of the substrate sheet W is fixed at the outer edge of the grinding wheel 15, maintain the table position 3 fixed in the horizontal direction.
2) When processing side sheet substrate with the method of radial plunge grinding and polishing, the grinding wheel 15 rotation direction of the spindle unit 18 is e. Meanwhile, the grinding spindle unit 18 with the motor 26 forward rotating moves along the grinding feed direction d. Keep the grinding the grinding spindle unit 18 fixed in the feed direction.
3) When using small diameter grinding or polishing wheel, back grinding of wafer with outer rim or back polishing of wafer with outer rim is achieved with the method of back grinding and polishing of wafer with outer rim, small diameter of grinding wheel or polishing wheel diameter is slightly smaller than the radius of the substrate W to be processed which will be placed on the chuck 12.
When using the method of any one of the above grinding methods, put the substrate W to be processed on the mentioned chuck 12, the mentioned disk-shaped chuck 12 is made of porous ceramic material, the mentioned table 3 driven by the feed mechanism 8 moves in the horizontal direction a towards the bottom of the grinding spindle unit, the mentioned spindle motor 17 drives the mentioned grinding wheel 15 rotating along the direction of grinding wheel rotation, the mentioned motor 26 or cylinder 39 drives the mentioned grinding spindle unit 18 feeding upward along the grinding feed direction d, the mentioned force measuring device 10 will transmit monitored grinding force to the control system, controlling the grinding force equal to the default value. When the mentioned thickness measuring device 13 detects the substrate W reaching the preset thickness, the mentioned grinding spindle unit 18 withdraw along the grinding vertical guide rail 23 completing the grinding of the substrate W. The mentioned feed mechanism 8 drives the mentioned work table 3 moving along horizontal direction a to the bottom of the polishing spindle unit 35, described polishing spindle motor 36 drives described polishing wheel 37 along a direction of wheel rotation h, described motor 26 or cylinder 39 drives described polishing spindle unit 35 feeding upward along the polishing feed direction g, described force measuring device 10 will transmit monitored grinding force to the control system, controlling the polishing force equal to the default value, described polishing spindle unit 18 withdraw along the polishing vertical guide rail 30 after polishing, the polishing process of the substrate W is completed. Described force measuring device 10 detects grinding force in the process of grinding or polishing force in the process of polishing and transmits the detection data to the control system to ensure the grinding or polishing force equal preset force. Described work table 3 driven by described feed mechanism 8 feeds along the horizontal direction a toward the unloading area.
A multifunction substrate grinding and polishing device as in
The column 2 is mounted on the middle of the base 1. A pair of grinding vertical guides 23 is mounted on the front side of the column 2. The grinding spindle unit 18 moving along the vertical feeding direction c or d is mounted on grinding vertical guides 23. A pair of polishing vertical guides 30 is mounted on the back side of the column 2. The polishing spindle unit 35 moving along the vertical feeding direction for g is mounted on polishing vertical guides 30.
Grinding spindle unit 18 and polishing spindle unit 35 connect to each other by a suspension mechanism 25, which is fixed to the front support base 27 and back support base 29 on the top of the column through traction rope.
A substrate grinding and polishing device as claimed, characterized in that the described grinding spindle unit 18 having a spindle base 19. The grinding motor spindle 17 is installed inside the grinding spindle base 19. The grinding wheel 15 rotating along direction e is installed at the bottom of grinding motor spindle 17. Spindle base 19 is mounted on the slide plate 21. Sliders 22 are mounted on the slide plate 21. The slide plate 21 move along a pair of grinding vertical guides 23 via sliders 22. The screw mechanism 24 fixed to the back of slide plate 21 is connected to the motor 26 at the top, described grinding motor spindle 17 drives the wheel 15 rotate along the direction of wheel rotation e. Described motor 26 could drive the grinding spindle unit 18 carry out lifting movement along grinding feed direction c or d, it could also drive the polishing spindle unit 35 carrying out lifting movement along polishing feed direction f or g to in order to achieve fixed stroke grinding.
As in
The described suspension mechanism 25 as in
The invention provides the following advantages:
(1) Double-spindle structure is used in the substrate grinding and polishing device where grinding and polishing of substrates such as silicon wafer, glass panels, ceramics and sapphire substrate can be done.
(2) After grinding, without unloading the substrate, the substrate moves from the grinding station directly into the polishing station waiting for the polishing process of a substrate.
(3) Many processing methods could be achieved in the device such as axial plunge grinding and polishing, radial plunge grinding and polishing and back grinding and polishing of wafer with outer rim.
(4) The grinding spindle unit and polishing spindle counterweigh mutually via a traction rope, sharing a motor driven feed mechanism and cylinder feed mechanism.
(5) Fixed stroke grinding and force control grinding could be realized during the grinding or polishing process of the substrate.
The specific implementation of the invention will be described in detail with technical solutions and accompanying drawings in the following. The grinding and polishing method of the invented multifunction grinding and polishing substrate device is as follows. Put the substrate W to be processed on the chuck 12, the disk-shaped chuck 12 is made by porous ceramic material, the table 3 driven by the feed mechanism 8 moves along the horizontal direction a towards the bottom of the grinding spindle unit, the spindle motor 17 drives the grinding wheel 15 rotating along the direction of grinding wheel rotation, the motor 26 or cylinder 39 drives the grinding spindle unit 18 feeding upward along the grinding feed direction d, the force measuring device 10 will transmit monitored grinding force to the control system, controlling the grinding force equal to the default value, when the thickness measuring device 13 detects the substrate W reaching the preset thickness, the grinding spindle unit 18 withdraws along the grinding vertical guide rail 23 completing the grinding of the substrate W. The feed mechanism 8 drives the work table 3 moving along horizontal direction a to the bottom of the polishing spindle unit 35, polishing spindle motor 36 drives polishing wheel 37 rotating along wheel rotation direction h, motor 26 or cylinder 39 drives polishing spindle unit 35 feeding upward along the polishing feed direction g, force measuring device 10 will transmit monitored grinding force to the control system, controlling the polishing force equal to the default value, polishing spindle unit 18 withdraws along the polishing vertical guide rail 30 after polishing, the polishing process of the substrate W is completed. The force measuring device 10 detects grinding force in the process of grinding or polishing force in the process of polishing and transmits the detection data to the control system to ensure the grinding or polishing force equal preset force. The work table 3 driven by the feed mechanism 8 feeds along the horizontal direction a toward the unloading area, as is shown in
There is a rectangular shaped base 1 in the multifunction substrate grinding and polishing device, on which a pair of horizontal guides 5 is fixed. The work table 3 carrying the substrate W is mounted on the horizontal guides 5 and it could move along direction a or b. The column 2 is mounted on the middle of the base 1. A pair of grinding vertical guides 23 is mounted on the front side of the column 2. The grinding spindle unit 18 moving along the vertical feeding direction c or d is mounted on grinding vertical guides 23. A pair of polishing vertical guides 30 is mounted on the back side of the column 2. The polishing spindle unit 35 moving along the vertical feeding direction for g is mounted on polishing vertical guides 30, as is shown in
Considering
A multifunction method of grinding and polishing a substrate, characterized in that the method of grinding and polishing a substrate in three ways:
1) When processing round sheet substrate with the method of axial plunge grinding and polishing, the substrate W to be processed is placed on the chuck (12), the work table (3) driven by the feed mechanism (8) moves to the grinding spindle unit (18) below in the horizontal direction arrow (b), the circle center of the substrate sheet (W) is fixed at the outer edge of the grinding wheel (15), maintain the position of work table (3) fixed in the horizontal direction.
2) When processing side sheet substrate with the method of radial plunge grinding and polishing, the grinding wheel (15) rotation direction of the spindle unit (18) is (e); Meanwhile, the grinding spindle unit (18) with the motor (26) forward rotating moves along the grinding feed direction (d), keep the grinding the grinding spindle unit (18) fixed in the feed direction.
3) When using small diameter grinding or polishing wheel, back grinding of wafer with outer rim or back polishing of wafer with outer rim is achieved with the method of back grinding and polishing of wafer with outer rim. Small diameter of grinding wheel or polishing wheel diameter is slightly smaller than the radius of the substrate (W) to be processed which will be placed on the chuck (12).
When using the method of any one of the above grinding method, put the substrate (W) to be processed on the described chuck (12), the described disk-shaped chuck (12) is made by porous ceramic material. The described work table (3) driven by the feed mechanism (8) move in the horizontal direction (a) towards the bottom of the grinding spindle unit. The described spindle motor (17) drives the described grinding wheel (15) rotating along the direction of grinding wheel rotation. The described motor (26) or cylinder (39) drives the described grinding spindle unit (18) feeding upward along the grinding feed direction (d). The described force measuring device (10) will transmit monitored grinding force to the control system, controlling the grinding force equal to the default value. When the described thickness measuring device (13) detects the substrate (W) reaching the preset thickness, the described grinding spindle unit (18) withdraws along the grinding vertical guide rail (23) completing the grinding of the substrate (W). The described feed mechanism (8) drives the described work table (3) moving along horizontal direction (a) to the bottom of the polishing spindle unit (35). The described polishing spindle motor (36) drives described polishing wheel (37) along a direction of wheel rotation (h), described motor (26) or cylinder (39) drives described polishing spindle unit (35) feeding upward along the polishing feed direction (g), described force measuring device (10) will transmit monitored grinding force to the control system, controlling the polishing force equal to the default value. The described polishing spindle unit (18) withdraws along the polishing vertical guide rail (30) after polishing, the polishing process of the substrate (W) is completed. Described force measuring device (10) detects grinding force in the process of grinding or polishing force in the process of polishing and transmits the detection data to the control system to ensure the grinding or polishing force equal preset force. Described work table (3) driven by described feed mechanism (8) feeds along the horizontal direction (a) toward the unloading area.
A multifunction substrate grinding and polishing device, characterized in double-spindle structure consisting of grinding spindle unit and polishing spindle unit, in which both substrate grinding and polishing can be done. Substrate grinding and polishing device has a rectangular shaped base (1), on which a pair of horizontal guides (5) is fixed. Slides are mounted on the horizontal guides (5). Slide table (7) is placed under the work table (3) and are fixed with slides (6), i.e. the work table (3) is fitted on a pair of horizontal guides through slides and slide table. The base (9) is installed on the work table (3). The force measurement (10) with round shape used for online force measuring is mounted on the upper surface of the base (9). Thickness measurement device (13) is mounted on a work table (3). The work-piece spindle motor (11) installed in the center of the work table (3) is put inside the force measuring device (10). The chuck (12) is installed on the top of work-piece spindle motor (11). The feed mechanism (8) is connected with the working table (3).
The column (2) is mounted on the middle of the base (1). A pair of grinding vertical guides (23) is mounted on the front side of the column (2). The grinding spindle unit (18) moving along the vertical feeding direction (c) or (d) is mounted on grinding vertical guides (23). A pair of polishing vertical guides (30) is mounted on the back side of the column (2). The polishing spindle unit (35) moving along the vertical feeding direction (f) or (g) is mounted on polishing vertical guides (30).
Grinding spindle unit (18) and polishing spindle unit (35) connect to each other by a suspension mechanism (25), which is fixed to the front support base (27) and back support base (29) on the top of the column through traction rope.
A substrate grinding and polishing device as claimed in claim, characterized in that the described grinding spindle unit (18) having a spindle base (19). The grinding motor spindle (17) is installed inside the grinding spindle base (19). The grinding wheel (15) rotating along direction (e) is installed at the bottom of grinding motor spindle (17). Spindle base (19) is mounted on the slide plate (21). Sliders (22) are mounted on the slide plate (21). The slide plate (21) move along a pair of grinding vertical guides (23) via sliders (22). the screw mechanism (24) fixed to the back of slide plate (21) is connected to the motor (26) at the top, described grinding motor spindle (17) drives the wheel (15) rotate along the direction of wheel rotation (e). Described motor (26) could drive the grinding spindle unit (18) carry out lifting movement along grinding feed direction (c) or (d) to, it could also drive the polishing spindle unit (35) carry out lifting movement along polishing feed direction (f) or (g) to in order to achieve fixed stroke grinding.
There is a spindle base (33) in the polishing spindle unit (35). The polishing motor spindle (36) is installed inside the spindle base (33). The polishing wheel (37) rotating along direction (h) is installed at the bottom of grinding motor spindle (17). Spindle base (33) is mounted on the slide plate (32). Sliders (31) are mounted on the slide plate (32). The slide plate (21) move along a pair of polishing vertical guides (30) via sliders (31). The polishing spindle unit (35) moves along polishing feed direction (f) or (g). The cylinder (39) is mounted at the lower end of vertical guide polishing (30) in parallel. The cylinder (39) drives the polishing spindle unit (35) to carry out lifting movement along polishing feed direction (f) or (g). under the traction of the traction rope (28), the grinding spindle unit (18) moves along the feed direction (c) or (d) simultaneously.
The described suspension mechanism (25) is fixed to the front support base (27) and back support base (29) on the top of the column (2) through traction rope (28). Pulley A (41) and pulley B (42) are installed at the front support base (27). Pulley C (43) and pulley D (45) are installed at the back support base (29). Pulley E (44) and Pulley F (46) are installed on side of the slide plate (32). The traction rope (28), with one end fixed to upper left of the slide plate (21), pulley A (41), pulley C (43), pulley E (44), pulley F (46), pulley D (45) and the pulley B (42) respectively, is finally fixed on upper right of the slide plate. Since the traction rope (28) connects the described grinding spindle unit (18) and the described polishing spindle unit (35) together, the grinding spindle unit (18) and polishing spindle unit (35) could counterweigh mutually, which could ensure the described grinding spindle unit (18) and the described polishing spindle unit (35) have the same displacement.
The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/CN2012/070627 | 1/19/2012 | WO | 00 | 12/6/2013 |
Publishing Document | Publishing Date | Country | Kind |
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WO2013/107030 | 7/25/2013 | WO | A |
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