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Production March, 2024
Precision Tube Cuts for High-Purity Semiconductor Applications
By Del Williams
liver essential liquids and gases under high pressure to critical equipment and systems within facilities, equipment, and infra- structure.
T Semiconductor piping is a
crucial component of the complex manufacturing processes in- volved in semiconductor fabrica- tion. For these ultra-high purity applications, the quality of com- ponents like piping that must be cut to length and welded is di- rectly linked to the quality of the end product. Semiconductor manufactur-
ing devices require ultra-pure water in their processes because any impurities will destroy the wafers being produced. Similarly, in the etching process, the use of ultra-high purity gas or chemicals is crucial to ensuring the removal of any debris created as a byprod- uct during manufacturing. To install or replace this
piping and tubing, the mechani- cal contractors that serve the semiconductor industry often utilize tube saws to cut the mate-
he semiconductor industry requires extensive piping and tubing systems to de-
rials to length prior to welding. However, ensuring the
maintenance of liquids and gases at a high level of purity, or even achieving an ultra-high level of purity, presents a significant challenge for this sector. This means any cuts in the piping or tubing need to be extremely pre- cise, square, and free of contami- nants such as tiny metal frag- ments.
Difficult Cuts Unfortunately, typical tube
saws often are not engineered to reliably make such precise cuts, “particularly given the varia- tions in pipe and tube sizes, wall thicknesses, and exotic material types from industry to industry,” says Chris Belle, CEO of Tri Tool Technologies. To service more than one in-
dustry, mechanical contractors frequently must procure multi- ple tube saws to cut piping and tubing of different sizes and types, increasing installation costs and complexity. Moreover, this equipment traditionally re- quires replacement in less than a year with regular use, further
contributing to expenses. Fortunately, recent ad-
vancements in the industry are addressing many of these chal- lenges while meeting the re- quirements for high and ultra- purity applications. Through a meticulous engineering ap- proach, tube saws have been de- veloped that ensure consistent, accurate, and precise cutting of a wide range of pipe and tubing sizes and materials.
Reengineering Traditional Designs
With a view into the needs
of sectors like semiconductor, Belle of Tri Tool considered what could be done to increase the pre- cision, reliability, and longevity of conventional tube saw design. Although the OEM has tra-
ditionally focused on higher end, custom machining tool applica- tions, Belle directed the compa- ny’s engineers to design a tube saw that could reliably make precision cuts for the widest range of markets. The tube saw was engi-
neered with the aim of eliminat- ing weak points in conventional
designs and was based on feed- back from customers and me- chanical contractors. The result is a table- or pipe stand-mount- able OD clamping tube saw with a self-centering clamping system that ensures precise, square cuts. The jaws clamp securely to the material being cut and self- lock to prevent loosening. Jaw extensions snap into place to hold smaller materials. To promote accuracy, an in-
tegrated laser line indicates the center of the cut on tube and thin wall pipe. To facilitate precision, the saw passes around the perimeter of the material to be cut after the plunge cut. A feed handle is geared to prevent the operator from overrunning the cut, yet provides smooth control. The design of the cutting head creates a square cut with high quality surface finish. The newly designed tube
saw can cut a wide range of tubes and pipes, ranging from 1/4 to 6 in. OD and 1/8 to 6 in. ID respec- tively. Its capabilities include precision cutting of thin wall stainless steel within the range of 0.035 to 0.150 in. (schedule 10 pipe), as well as the ability to handle challenging materials like titanium and Inconel®. To enhance productivity
when cutting various materials, the saw comes with different blade options. Assorted blade di- ameters and tooth counts are available for different wall thick- ness and materials.
Sealed Precision Bearings A prevalent issue encoun-
tered with conventional tube saws is that their design leaves crucial components, such as bearings, susceptible to the fine metal particles that detach from pipes and tubes during the cut- ting process. The presence of even the tiniest metal fragments in the bearings not only reduces accuracy and performance, but also results in abrasive wear and damage. Precision tube and thin wall pipe cutting plays a crucial role in various sectors such as
semiconductor manufacturing. Contact: Tri Tool Technolo-
gies, 3041 Sunrise Boulevard, Rancho Cordova, CA 95742 % 888-305-1337 Web:
www.tritool.com r
See at IPC APEX, Booth 1225
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