Aerotech, a US-based leader in precision motion control and automation, has been a key player in providing high-performance systems for industries ranging from photonics and aerospace to medical and laser applications.
However, the semiconductor sector remains one of its core focuses. With over 50 years of expertise, Aerotech continues to showcase its advancements at major industry events such as Semicon Taiwan.
In a conversation with DIGITIMES Asia during Semicon Taiwan, William Yeh, Aerotech's Taiwan & North Asia regional sales manager, shed light on how the company's solutions align with the ongoing trends in semiconductor manufacturing, where miniaturization and high throughput have become industry standards.
Precision in miniaturization, throughput, and stability
"The push for smaller and more efficient devices has placed immense pressure on manufacturers to achieve sub-micron and even nanometer-level precision," Yeh said. He emphasized that Aerotech's precision motion systems are critical in addressing this need, offering unmatched accuracy to ensure that even the most intricate semiconductor devices can be produced with minimal defects.
Yeh further noted that high throughput is another key element that Aerotech tackles, with its systems designed to maximize production speed while maintaining quality, resulting in fewer production errors and higher yields.
In addition to precision and throughput, Yeh emphasized the importance of stability in high-speed operations. "Our systems are optimized for vibration control, which is essential for maintaining stability during continuous 24/7 operations," he explained. This ensures that semiconductor manufacturers can rely on Aerotech's systems to perform consistently under demanding conditions, further enhancing overall production efficiency.
Addressing challenges in advanced packaging and silicon photonics
Yeh also provided insights into some of the most pressing challenges in semiconductor manufacturing, particularly in areas like advanced packaging, silicon photonics, and TGV drilling. Advanced packaging, which allows for the integration of multiple semiconductor components into a single device, is becoming increasingly critical as AI and other high-demand technologies drive the need for larger device sizes and finer patterning on substrates.
"Maintaining accuracy while pushing for higher throughput is crucial in advanced packaging," Yeh said, underscoring Aerotech's role in enabling manufacturers to meet these dual demands.
Silicon photonics, another major area of focus, requires highly precise alignment of optical components to ensure optimal data transmission speeds. According to Yeh, Aerotech's Hexapod positioners—featuring six-degree-of-freedom—are uniquely suited for these applications, offering repeatable, high-resolution movements that significantly reduce cycle times and improve overall testing efficiency.
"This level of precision is critical for silicon photonics testing, where even the smallest misalignment can impact bandwidth and communication performance," Yeh noted.
TGV drilling, which is used in advanced packaging to create fine holes in semiconductor interposers, presents its own set of challenges. With manufacturers seeking both high throughput and micron-level accuracy, Aerotech's systems offer the precision needed for these demanding applications.
"Our light manipulation solutions ensure that even as device sizes and complexities increase, manufacturers can maintain the accuracy required for high-performance semiconductor products," Yeh said.
Innovations in AI, machine Learning, and motion Control
As the semiconductor industry evolves, so too does the technology behind motion control systems.
Aerotech has been at the forefront of integrating AI and machine learning into its product offerings, with innovations such as the EasyTune® advanced autotuning tool.
"Machine learning plays a significant role in our motion control solutions, particularly in optimizing the servo tuning process," Yeh explained.
Through machine learning, Aerotech's systems have analyzed an enormous amount of data and are able to make predictions and recommend adjustments to improve servo performance. EasyTune, for instance, helps customers fine-tune their systems without needing in-depth knowledge of servo mechanics. This not only streamlines the tuning process but also ensures that the systems operate at peak performance.
Future of precision motion control
Looking toward the future, Yeh sees significant advancements on the horizon for precision motion control, driven in part by the limitations of Moore's Law. As semiconductor manufacturers push for smaller, more powerful devices, the need for greater precision will remain a key driver of innovation.
"We're reaching the physical limits of current technologies, and that's pushing us to explore new drive mechanisms and feedback systems," Yeh said. This includes the development of motors that can deliver higher force while managing heat more effectively, as well as incorporating advanced thermal management and vibration control techniques to improve performance under high-speed operations.
Another area of future development is the reduction of cabling through the use of fiber optics. Yeh highlighted that as fiber optics become more common in motion control systems, they will reduce cable clutter and improve design flexibility.
"We're already starting to implement fiber optic technology in some of our systems, and I expect this to become a larger trend in the future," he noted. With fewer cables to manage, manufacturers will be able to design more compact and efficient systems, further improving throughput and reliability.
In conclusion, Aerotech's innovations are setting the stage for the future of precision motion control in the semiconductor industry.
As manufacturers continue to face challenges related to miniaturization, throughput, and stability, Aerotech's solutions are helping to push the boundaries of what's possible, ensuring that the company remains at the forefront of motion control technology for years to come.
