SMART CUT®
DIAMOND BACKGRINDING WHEELS

SMART CUT®  Diamond Backgrinding Wheels are designed for precision thinning and flattening of silicon wafers, glass, and ceramic substrates. These high-performance wheels are used on backgrinding machines, including models from Disco, Okamoto, Strasbaugh, and other leading manufacturers. Available in sizes ranging from 8” to 14” O.D., they are engineered to handle a wide range of materials and applications, from semiconductor wafers to microelectronic packages.

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Features:

Application:

Type

Profile sketch

Common Specifications in mm

Diameter D

Thickness T

Inside Diameter

6A2

DIAMOND BACKGRINDING WHEELS SPECIFICATIONS

175

200

350

30-35

35

45

Inside Diameter

76

127

6A2T

DIAMOND BACKGRINDING WHEELS SPECIFICATIONS

195

280

350

22.5-25

30

35

170

228.6

235

6A2T (three ellipses)

DIAMOND BACKGRINDING WHEELS SPECIFICATIONS

209

22.5-23

158

All Dimensions: T, E, W, X can be customized to fit your requirements

Semiconductor wafers are routinely thinned prior to dicing to aid the sawing operation and to allow the final assembled package thickness to be minimized. For semiconductor devices required to operate at high power levels, wafer thinning improves the ability to dissipate heat by lowering the thermal resistance of die. As final thickness is decreased, the wafer progressively becomes less able to support its own weight and to resist the stresses generated by post backgrinding processes. Thus, it is important to reduce the damage caused by backgrinding. 

UKAM Industrial Superhard Tools has the technology and expertise to help you optimize your backgrinding process to ultimate level of efficiency.

About Diamond Back Grinding

Back grinding is a crucial process in semiconductor manufacturing, aimed at thinning silicon wafers after circuits have been constructed on their front side. This step is essential for reducing the thickness of wafers, improving heat dissipation, and enhancing flexibility for various packaging applications, especially in high-performance electronics where efficient heat management and compact packaging are vital.

The process starts by mounting the wafers on a special adhesive film that secures them during grinding. This is crucial as it prevents any damage or breakage that could occur due to the thinning process. The primary tool used for back grinding is a grinding wheel made of a diamond-bonded matrix, which is capable of grinding silicon quickly and with precision. This grinding must be carefully controlled to reach the desired wafer thickness, often less than 100 microns for some applications.

Manufacturing Processes for Silicon Semiconductors From Ingot to Integrated Circuit

During grinding, a cooling fluid is often used to prevent excessive heat build-up which could damage the wafer's surface and the underlying circuits. The fluid also assists in removing the silicon particles that are ground off. An excellent solution for this application is our

After grinding, the wafers may undergo a stress relief process, such as etching or applying a stress-relief layer, to remove any micro-cracks or surface stresses induced by the grinding.

One of the main challenges of back grinding is maintaining the integrity of the wafer surface. The process must be precise enough to thin the wafer without causing surface damage that could impair the functionality of the circuits. Handling and cleaning the wafers post-grinding are also critical, as any residual stress or particles left on the wafer can affect subsequent processes or the final performance of the semiconductor device. Additionally, the grinding process can introduce sub-surface damage, such as micro-cracks and dislocations, which might not be visible but can affect the reliability and performance of the semiconductor devices. To address these issues, advanced techniques like dry polishing or chemical mechanical polishing (CMP) are often employed after back grinding to remove or reduce such damage.

Case Study: Performance of SMART CUT® Diamond
Grinding Wheels for Silicon Wafer Processing

This case study demonstrates the performance of SMART CUT®  Diamond Grinding Wheels in a backgrinding application for 8" and 12" silicon wafers. One of our client conducted a trial comparing the performance of SMART CUT®  grinding wheels against a competitor’s wheels, utilizing different bond types and machinery.

Wafer Type: 8" Silicon Wafer

Specification 

Diamond Bond 4000 

Diamond Bond 6000

Machine Used 

 DISCO_850

 DISCO_850

Current (A)

6.5 – 8.5 

 7.5 – 9.5

Tip Wear (um)

0.6 – 2.0 

0.4 – 1.5

Surface Roughness (Ra, um) 

 0.022 

0.015

Observations:

The SMART CUT® Diamond Bond 4000 grinding wheel delivered a consistent material removal rate (MRR) with minimal tip wear and a surface roughness of 0.022 µm. The competitor’s product, on the other hand, showed higher tip wear and a higher surface roughness of 0.025 µm, indicating a higher rate of wear and less efficient grinding.

Wafer Type: 12" Silicon Wafer

Specification

Diamond Bond 4000

Machine Used 

DISCO_8560

Current (A)

7.0 – 9.0

Tip Wear (um)

0.5 – 2.0

Surface Roughness (Ra, um) 

0.020

Observations:

For the 12" wafers, the SMART CUT®  Diamond Bond 4000 grinding wheel showed exceptional durability with lower tip wear, ensuring the wafer's surface remained consistent. The surface roughness was 0.020 µm, which is optimal for high-performance applications requiring precision. The competitor’s wheel demonstrated significantly higher wear rates and slightly higher roughness values, which could potentially impact the wafer’s final quality.

Wafer Type: 8" Silicon Wafer – Competitor Comparison

Specification 

XRP

Competitor

Machine Used 

DISCO_840

 DISCO_850

Current (A)

5.5 – 7.0

5.0 – 6.5

Tip Wear (um)

0.3 – 0.8

0.9

Surface Roughness (Ra, um) 

0.010

0.015

Observations:

SMART CUT® wheels outperformed the competitor's wheels with reduced tip wear and lower surface roughness. The competitor's wheels resulted in a rougher surface with significantly more wear. The XRP bond on the SMART CUT® wheels further ensured lower power consumption during grinding, increasing overall efficiency.

Key Performance Metrics:

SMART CUT®  Diamond Grinding Wheels for silicon wafer processing delivered superior performance compared to a leading competitor's products. These wheels provided efficient material removal, minimal tip wear, and lower surface roughness, making them ideal for high-precision applications in semiconductor manufacturing. The results demonstrate the wheels long-lasting performance and high productivity, offering a significant return on investment for companies in the wafer grinding industry.

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