fafo/techtree
fafo/techtree
15
0
Fork 0
Code Issues 107 Pull requests Projects Activity Actions

Lapping Machine #3

New issue
Open
opened 2025-05-22 19:47:24 +00:00 by rahix · 6 comments
rahix commented 2025-05-22 19:47:24 +00:00
Owner
Copy link

⇒ Wikipedia

Logitech Lapping Machine Jig

For us, a lapping machine is mainly useful for precisely grinding away the surface of an IC package or even layers of the die itself.

Ideally we can find one for cheap second-hand.

⇒ [Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lapping) <a title="The original uploader was Darrensavery at English Wikipedia., CC BY-SA 3.0 &lt;http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0/&gt;, via Wikimedia Commons" href="https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Logitech_Lapping_Machine_Jig.jpg"><img width="512" alt="Logitech Lapping Machine Jig" src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/86/Logitech_Lapping_Machine_Jig.jpg?20061201192228"></a> For us, a lapping machine is mainly useful for precisely grinding away the surface of an IC package or even layers of the die itself. Ideally we can find one for cheap second-hand.
rahix added the
Type
Equipment
 label 2025-05-22 19:47:24 +00:00
forgejo-actions commented 2025-05-22 19:47:30 +00:00
Copy link

Partial Techtree

flowchart BT

    classDef eoi fill:#fff, stroke:#000, color:#000;
    classDef dependant fill:#fff, stroke:#888, color:#888;
    classDef dep_missing fill:#fcc, stroke:#800, color:#000;
    classDef dep_assigned fill:#ffa, stroke:#a50, color:#000;
    classDef dep_completed fill:#afa, stroke:#080, color:#000;
    0:::eoi
    0["<a href='https://git.fa-fo.de/fafo/techtree/issues/3' target='_blank'>#3</a> | MISSING<br/><i>Equipment</i><br/><b>Lapping Machine</b>"]
    1:::dependant
    1["<a href='https://git.fa-fo.de/fafo/techtree/issues/1' target='_blank'>#1</a> | MISSING<br/><i>Process</i><br/><b>Chip Decapping</b>"]
    2:::dependant
    2["<a href='https://git.fa-fo.de/fafo/techtree/issues/2' target='_blank'>#2</a> | MISSING<br/><i>Process</i><br/><b>Chip Delayering</b>"]
    3:::dependant
    3["<a href='https://git.fa-fo.de/fafo/techtree/issues/89' target='_blank'>#89</a> | ASSIGNED<br/><i>Process</i><br/><b>PCB Delayering</b>"]
    1 --> 0
    2 --> 0
    3 --> 0

Digest: 2d789cdda738a8dff219bd4615c7b960538d0ee9c89f38859a01207cb6263e37; Last Updated: 2025-10-05 17:01:59

## Partial Techtree ```mermaid flowchart BT classDef eoi fill:#fff, stroke:#000, color:#000; classDef dependant fill:#fff, stroke:#888, color:#888; classDef dep_missing fill:#fcc, stroke:#800, color:#000; classDef dep_assigned fill:#ffa, stroke:#a50, color:#000; classDef dep_completed fill:#afa, stroke:#080, color:#000; 0:::eoi 0["<a href='https://git.fa-fo.de/fafo/techtree/issues/3' target='_blank'>#3</a> | MISSING<br/><i>Equipment</i><br/><b>Lapping Machine</b>"] 1:::dependant 1["<a href='https://git.fa-fo.de/fafo/techtree/issues/1' target='_blank'>#1</a> | MISSING<br/><i>Process</i><br/><b>Chip Decapping</b>"] 2:::dependant 2["<a href='https://git.fa-fo.de/fafo/techtree/issues/2' target='_blank'>#2</a> | MISSING<br/><i>Process</i><br/><b>Chip Delayering</b>"] 3:::dependant 3["<a href='https://git.fa-fo.de/fafo/techtree/issues/89' target='_blank'>#89</a> | ASSIGNED<br/><i>Process</i><br/><b>PCB Delayering</b>"] 1 --> 0 2 --> 0 3 --> 0 ``` <small>Digest: 2d789cdda738a8dff219bd4615c7b960538d0ee9c89f38859a01207cb6263e37; Last Updated: 2025-10-05 17:01:59</small>
rahix added a new dependency 2025-05-22 19:47:34 +00:00
#1 Chip Decapping
rahix added the
Needs Documentation
 label 2025-05-22 20:09:36 +00:00
rahix added a new dependency 2025-05-22 20:16:58 +00:00
#2 Chip Delayering
rahix removed the
Needs Documentation
 label 2025-05-29 11:47:40 +00:00
hugo commented 2025-09-07 00:52:10 +00:00
Owner
Copy link

There has been one attempt at building a lapping machine from a old hard drive. The old motor was replaced with a gear motor in order to spin the platter at around 5 rpm. Here is the Hackaday writeup. The comment section has some good tipps and improvements for the design.

Toby Sanchez (supposedly ex. Intel) recommends the following:

There has been one attempt at building a lapping machine from a old hard drive. The old motor was replaced with a gear motor in order to spin the platter at around 5 rpm. [Here](https://hackaday.com/2018/05/21/fail-of-the-week-the-semiconductor-lapping-machine-that-cant-lap-straight/) is the Hackaday writeup. The comment section has some good tipps and improvements for the design. Toby Sanchez (supposedly ex. Intel) recommends the following: - **Mounting of the Die** - Adhesive: Crystalbond Low Melting Point Mounting Adhesive - Use a known planar surface to ensure the die surface and Crystalbond are level - **Tripod Holder**: https://www.laddresearch.com/general-laboratory-supplies/tripod-polisher-for-tem-and-sem-accessories - Additionally, have multiple sizes of lapping and various hardness abrasives on hand: https://www.google.com/search?q=10%20micron%20lapping%20abrasive
hugo commented 2025-09-07 03:21:55 +00:00
Owner
Copy link

Otherwise there is also https://www.hisemitechnology.com/lapping-polishing-machine/precision-lapping-and-polishing-machine.html which has some nice high-quality images.

Otherwise there is also https://www.hisemitechnology.com/lapping-polishing-machine/precision-lapping-and-polishing-machine.html which has some nice high-quality images.
hugo commented 2025-09-13 14:45:19 +00:00
Owner
Copy link

Manufacturers

Assembled Lapping Machines:

Lapping Plates

Accessories

Feature Matrix of LITH Machines

Here is a feature matrix of selected lapping machines from Xiamen Lith Machine Limited.

Feature LITH Unipol 1202 LITH Unipol 1203 LITH Unipol 1500-S16 LITH Unipol 1200S
Top and Bottom Plate No No Yes Yes
Price $1,500 $2,000 $1,800 $1,560
Lapping Disc / Polishing Plate Material Cast Iron Stainless Steel Not specified (15" bottom plate) Not specified (12" bottom plate)
Lapping Disc / Polishing Plate Diameter 300 mm 300 mm 380 mm (bottom) 300 mm (bottom)
Lapping Disc Flatness < 0.0025 mm per 25×25 mm < 0.25 µm / in² Not specified Not specified
Speed 10 – 125 rpm 1 – 240 rpm Bottom: 20 – 240 rpm (10 rpm increments); Top: 10 – 80 rpm adjustable (10–50 rpm recommended) Bottom: 20 – 240 rpm (10 rpm increments); Top: 10 – 80 rpm adjustable (10–50 rpm recommended)
Max Size of Sample 105 mm 105 mm 16 samples, ≤25 mm (1") each Single ≤150 mm (6") or multiple ≤50 mm
Water Supply Upper and lower water port for tap water and drainage Not specified Optional 4-channel automatic slurry feeder Optional 4-channel automatic slurry feeder
Size (L × W × H) 800 × 600 × 700 mm 550 × 700 × 420 mm 660 × 460 × 760 mm 660 × 460 × 760 mm
Power 275 W 450 W - -
Support Arm Swing Times 0 – 9 times / min – – Manual swing arm (for polishing fixture)
Automatic Slurry Feeder Optional – Optional Optional
Sample Holder Diameter – 105 mm 150 mm × 2 (top plates) 160 mm (top plate)
Conditioning Ring Diameter – 127.5 mm – –
Pressing Force – – 0.5 – 20 kgf (0.5–15 kgf recommended), adjustable in 0.5 kgf increments 0.5 – 20 kgf (0.5–15 kgf recommended), adjustable in 0.5 kgf increments

Optional items for the LITH Unipol 1202:

  • Multi-sample polishing fixture is available up to 2 x 8 pcs for 1" dia. samples per batch
  • 4" Polishing Fixture for Precision / Automatic Thinning and Polishing

Fixtures

Shenyang Kejing Auto-instrument Co., Ltd. produces polishing fixtures for lapping machines. The GPC-80A is also shown in product pictures of the LITH Unipol 1202.

GPC-80A: https://www.shykejing.com/product/precision-polishing-fixture-for-dia80mm-sample

## Manufacturers Assembled Lapping Machines: - [Xiamen Lith Machine Limited] (https://lith.en.alibaba.com/index.htmlspm=a2700.details.0.0.1f4a54a1QoH4Zh&from=detail&productId=11000025295338) - [Lapmaster Wolters GmbH](https://lapmaster-wolters.de/) probably very expensive. Lapping Plates - [Kemet](https://www.kemet.co.uk/products/flatlapping/kemet-lapping-plates) - [HK Founders](https://www.hk-founders.com/plates-for-flat-lapping) Accessories - [Shenyang Kejing Auto-instrument Co., Ltd.](https://www.shykejing.com): Polishing Fixtures ## Feature Matrix of LITH Machines Here is a feature matrix of selected lapping machines from [Xiamen Lith Machine Limited](https://lith.en.alibaba.com/index.html?spm=a2700.details.0.0.1f4a54a1QoH4Zh&from=detail&productId=11000025295338). | Feature | [LITH Unipol 1202](https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/Laboratory-Automatic-15-Precision-Lapping-and_1600348261805.html?spm=a2700.shop_plgr.41413.10.59857121WLhxml) | [LITH Unipol 1203](https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/12-High-Speed-Automatic-CMP-Polisher_1600348330150.html?spm=a2700.shop_plgr.41413.2.59857121WLhxml) | [LITH Unipol 1500-S16](https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/16-Samples-Automatic-Polishing-Machine-for_1600349520358.html?spm=a2700.shop_plgr.41413.8.59857121WLhxml) | [LITH Unipol 1200S](https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/16-Samples-Automatic-Polishing-Machine-for_1600349520358.html?spm=a2700.shop_plgr.41413.8.59857121WLhxml) | | ------------------------------------------- | ----------------------------------------------------- | ------------------ | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | | **Top and Bottom Plate** | No | No | Yes | Yes | | **Price** | \$1,500 | \$2,000 | \$1,800 | \$1,560 | | **Lapping Disc / Polishing Plate Material** | Cast Iron | Stainless Steel | Not specified (15" bottom plate) | Not specified (12" bottom plate) | | **Lapping Disc / Polishing Plate Diameter** | 300 mm | 300 mm | 380 mm (bottom) | 300 mm (bottom) | | **Lapping Disc Flatness** | < 0.0025 mm per 25×25 mm | < 0.25 µm / in² | Not specified | Not specified | | **Speed** | 10 – 125 rpm | 1 – 240 rpm | Bottom: 20 – 240 rpm (10 rpm increments); Top: 10 – 80 rpm adjustable (10–50 rpm recommended) | Bottom: 20 – 240 rpm (10 rpm increments); Top: 10 – 80 rpm adjustable (10–50 rpm recommended) | | **Max Size of Sample** | 105 mm | 105 mm | 16 samples, ≤25 mm (1") each | Single ≤150 mm (6") or multiple ≤50 mm | | **Water Supply** | Upper and lower water port for tap water and drainage | Not specified | Optional 4-channel automatic slurry feeder | Optional 4-channel automatic slurry feeder | | **Size (L × W × H)** | 800 × 600 × 700 mm | 550 × 700 × 420 mm | 660 × 460 × 760 mm | 660 × 460 × 760 mm | | **Power** | 275 W | 450 W | - | - | | **Support Arm Swing Times** | 0 – 9 times / min | – | – | Manual swing arm (for polishing fixture) | | **Automatic Slurry Feeder** | Optional | – | Optional | Optional | | **Sample Holder Diameter** | – | 105 mm | 150 mm × 2 (top plates) | 160 mm (top plate) | | **Conditioning Ring Diameter** | – | 127.5 mm | – | – | | **Pressing Force** | – | – | 0.5 – 20 kgf (0.5–15 kgf recommended), adjustable in 0.5 kgf increments | 0.5 – 20 kgf (0.5–15 kgf recommended), adjustable in 0.5 kgf increments | Optional items for the LITH Unipol 1202: - Multi-sample polishing fixture is available up to 2 x 8 pcs for 1" dia. samples per batch - 4" Polishing Fixture for Precision / Automatic Thinning and Polishing ## Fixtures Shenyang Kejing Auto-instrument Co., Ltd. produces polishing fixtures for lapping machines. The GPC-80A is also shown in product pictures of the LITH Unipol 1202. GPC-80A: https://www.shykejing.com/product/precision-polishing-fixture-for-dia80mm-sample
hugo commented 2025-09-13 14:47:09 +00:00
Owner
Copy link

There is a good guide on everything lapping machine related on https://www.lapmaster-wolters.com/accessories/

There is a good guide on everything lapping machine related on https://www.lapmaster-wolters.com/accessories/
hugo added a new dependency 2025-09-13 15:16:36 +00:00
#89 PCB Delayering
hugo commented 2025-09-28 17:46:46 +00:00
Owner
Copy link

Making a lapping plate the low-tech way with three cast-iron plates: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBeKt2OxRMQoF5doYB1lwRXTTmQX_LZ8I

Making a lapping plate the low-tech way with three cast-iron plates: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLBeKt2OxRMQoF5doYB1lwRXTTmQX_LZ8I
Sign in to join this conversation.
No Branch/Tag specified
Branches Tags
main
render
No results found.
Labels
Clear labels   
Completed

This element has been completed but we do not want to close the issue yet!

  
Needs Documentation

Please add more documentation to this tech tree element!

  
Stale

This issue is stale and needs reintegration into the tech tree.

  
Type
Development
A device, software, or other thing we need to develop.

  
Type
Equipment
A piece of machinery that we need to acquire or get running.

  
Type
Process
A process we need to achieve.

  
Type
Research
A topic that we can or must research to unlock future capabilities.

No labels
Completed
Needs Documentation
Stale
Type
Development
Type
Equipment
Type
Process
Type
Research
Milestone
Clear milestone
No items
No milestone
Projects
Clear projects
No items
No project
Assignees
Clear assignees
No assignees
3 participants
Notifications
Due date
The due date is invalid or out of range. Please use the format "yyyy-mm-dd".

No due date set.

Blocks
#1 Chip Decapping
fafo/techtree
#2 Chip Delayering
fafo/techtree
#89 PCB Delayering
fafo/techtree
Reference: fafo/techtree#3
No description provided.
Delete branch "%!s()"

Deleting a branch is permanent. Although the deleted branch may continue to exist for a short time before it actually gets removed, it CANNOT be undone in most cases. Continue?