Here's the Veeco press release:
Company Press Release
Veeco Announces WYKO DT4 Automated Disk Flatness Inspection System For Improved Process Control
TUCSON, Ariz.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sept. 4, 1997--
First Production Tool to Automate Surface Flatness
and Parallelism Measurement for Next-Generation Disk
Manufacturing
Veeco Process Metrology Group, a world leader in advanced surface measurement systems, today announced the WYKO DT4 Disk Flatness Inspection System. This non-contact instrument is the first automated inspection system that improves process control by making two-sided flatness and parallelism measurements on disks in a single pass. Flatter and more parallel hard disks are key technology drivers for production of the next generation of smaller, faster and more densely packed disk drives.
Built for manufacturing environments, the WYKO DT4 can be used to inspect disks at any point in the process flow after the first polish stage. Global flatness of a disk is measured by the instrument's 1.06 m laser, with runout to 18.6 m across one radius.
''To reach industry goals of smaller disks, faster speeds, and increased data density, disk flatness tolerances also become tighter and parallelism is becoming increasingly important as a measure of dynamic balance,'' said Esther Davenport, Vice President of Veeco Process metrology, Tucson. ''By measuring and learning more about disk parallelism, the data storage industry can continue to improve speed beyond 10,000 RPM.''
Developed specifically for the WYKO DT4, both the system's software and hardware have been designed to maximize speed and throughput, as well as provide reliability and flexibility. The software provides a true multi-tasking environment which enables the system to move cassettes and disks while simultaneously setting up and making a measurement. A unique combination of the simple motorized stage for automated cassette-to-cassette inspection, as well as automated tip/tilt and intensity controls provide fast throughput of up to 4.5 seconds per disk side, or 380 disks per hour. Gage-study results show the WYKO DT4 to meet even the most demanding tolerances.
Suitable to automated production lines, the stage's linear motion can be easily adapted for any production conveyor belt system, allowing several systems to be located along a processing line. The instrument provides its own vibration isolation. Since each disk is positioned close to the reference flat, the measurement is less sensitive to mechanical vibration. Cassette enclosures protect the disks from any external acoustic vibration on the production floor.
The WYKO DT4 measures 84mm or 95 mm disks. The WYKO DT6 is also available to measure 130 mm disks. The system is very compact, with a small footprint of 55'' wide by 40'' deep.
Veeco Process Metrology Group, located in Tucson, Arizona, and Santa Barbara, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ:VECO). Headquartered in Plainview, N.Y., Veeco is a worldwide leader in process equipment for the data storage industry and process metrology systems for the semiconductor, data storage, flat panel display and industrial markets. Additional manufacturing and engineering facilities are located in Plainview, Orangeburg and Congers, New York. Global sales and service offices are located throughout the U.S, Europe and Asia-Pacific. |
