Equipment Type:

Cleanroom Instrumentation

Electronic and Optoelectronic Testing

Nano and Micro Fabrication

Instrument Capabilities

The West Bond Wire Bonder (Model 7476D-79) is a manual wedge-wedge wire bonding system used to create electrical interconnections between microfabricated devices, semiconductor chips, and external packages. The system uses ultrasonic energy to bond fine metallic wires to metal contact pads, enabling reliable electrical connections for device testing and packaging. The system can bond to metal pads as small as 50 µm and can produce up to 21 bond sites before the wire is parted. The bonder accommodates aluminum and gold wires from 0.0007 to 0.002 inches (17.8–50.8 µm) in diameter using the wedge-wedge bonding technique. Aluminum wire is typically bonded at room temperature using ultrasonic energy, while gold wire bonding is performed with additional workpiece heating.

Key capabilities and features:

• The system is set up for 0.00125 inch or 31.75 microns diameter aluminum wire.
• Wedge-wedge bonding of aluminum and gold wires
• Wire diameters from 0.0007 to 0.002 inches (17.8–50.8 µm)
• Current system configuration for 0.00125-inch (31.75 µm) aluminum wire
• Ability to make up to 21 bond sites before wire parting
• Ultrasonic bonding at approximately 63 kHz
• Adjustable bonding force and ultrasonic energy for process optimization
• Aluminum wire bonding at room temperature
• Heated-stage capability for thermosonic bonding of gold wire
• X-Y-Z manual micromanipulator for precise positioning of the bonding tool
• Binocular microscope for direct visualization and alignment of bond locations
• Capability to bond to small metal contact pads
• Suitable for bonding devices to packages and electrical test fixtures

Useful Documentation

• System Manual
• Wire Threading (45 degrees)

Fees and Policies

Cleanroom Entry fee: (The cleanroom entry fee is charged in addition to the cleanroom facility usage fee)

• UT Users: $6
• Higher Education/State Agencies: $10
• Corporate/External Users: $10

Cleanroom Facility

• UT Users: $35/hour
• Higher Education/State Agencies (Assisted): $92/hour
• Corporate/External Users (Assisted): $94/hour
• Higher Education/State Agencies (Unassisted): $64/hour
• Corporate/External Users (Unassisted): $65/hour

Please contact Dr. Raluca Gearba and/or James Smitherman to schedule a training session.