Automated AFM system enables automatic defect and surface roughness review for semiconductors

Park Systems, Santa Clara, Calif., introduces Park NX-HDM, a fully automated atomic force microscopy (AFM) automatic defect review and sub-angstrom surface roughness measurement system for device substrates and disk media. The system increases throughput by up to 1000%, and offers a 30% higher success rate than prior systems. It analyzes, identifies, and scans media for all wafer sizes up to 150 mm.

Zinc oxide enhances antibacterial properties of dental resin

Researches lead by Sara Tavassoli at Shahed University, Tehran, Iran, wanted to create a composite resin with antibacterial properties without reducing its mechanical and physical properties.  “Zinc oxide nanoparticles were added to a preventive and treatment material and its antibacterial, mechanical, and physical properties were investigated at the same time,” she said.    Adding zinc oxide nanoparticles to the resins increased the antibacterial properties.

Sulzer Metco laser cladding system applies deposits on multi-dimensional surfaces

Sulzer Metco, Switzerland, introduces MetcoClad, a robotics-based laser cladding system that can apply welded deposits on multi-dimensional surfaces in a single cladding run. The robust systems simplify operability, reduce production set-up time, and monitor the cladding process. Part manipulation can be tailored to customer requirements.

Optical wafer inspection platform is combined with electron-beam system for higher-speed analysis

KLA-Tencor, Milpitas, Calif., introduces the  2910 Series optical wafer defect inspection platform with NanoPoint technology,  and the eDR-7100 electron-beam wafer defect review system. Meeting the need for accelerated defect sourcing on advanced devices, these tools combine increased speed with seamless connectivity to quickly find and identify defects that inhibit yield and reliability.

3D printed arm looks like sci-fi movie prop

Student interns from the Additive Manufacturing and 3D Printing Research Group (3DPRG) at The University of Nottingham, UK, created a 3D-printed functionalized prosthetic arm illustrating how the technology could evolve to print customized prosthetics with electronic moving parts and nerve endings. The creation was present at 3D: printing the future, which opened at the London Science Museum in early October.