PlasmaLine | SCHMID Group

Plasma etch and deposition for HDI+ PCB’s and IC substrates

PlasmaLine is a series of modular inline plasma systems for touch-free, simultaneous double-side processing of high end HDI+ PCBs and IC substrates. By combining etch and deposition process modules, the system can be configured for almost any application.

Inductively coupled plasma modules enable efficient desmear and surface treatment of low loss high frequency substrate materials, as well as deposition of dielectric layers. Magnetron sputter modules allow the deposition of adhesion and seed layers, which are increasingly used in semi-additive processing (SAP) and modified SAP (mSAP).

Product benefits

High throughput inline systems with low CoO

Easy scaling using a modular platform design

Simultaneous double-side process

Vertical touch-free transport

No ESD damage

Environmentally friendly with low gas consumption

Details

PlasmaLine is a multi-process tool for processing of HDI+ boards and substrates. The systems have a modular in-line design for dynamic, simultaneous double-side etching and deposition processing on rigid and flexible materials. The vertical orientation of the panel-in-frame and a magnetic drive provides touch-free transport and a particle-free environment.

Within the PlasmaLine there are load-lock modules, inductively coupled plasma modules (ICP), magnetron sputter physical vapor deposition modules (MS PVD), and radiation cooling modules. The ICP module can be used for dry etch, desmear, and surface treatment and for plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD) of dielectric layers. The PVD modules are composed of two pairs of planar magnetrons with double race tracks for simultaneous coating of both panel sides. The PVD process is part of the SAP process to deposit a copper (Cu) seed layer on dielectric materials before pattern plating.

The smallest configuration is the PlasmaLine R, which is intended for research and low volume production of next generation high frequency products. The Plasma-Line M is a fully automated production tool comprising plasma etch and sputter deposition modules for mass manufacturing of HDI+ boards and IC substrates. The low cost of ownership makes it a perfect solution for mSAP and SAP processing.