Introduction
Bonding machines are high-precision microelectronic equipment widely used in semiconductor packaging. Proper maintenance can significantly improve bonding yield, reduce equipment failures, extend service life, and minimize consumable loss. This guide presents a structured three-level maintenance approach: daily, weekly, and special care for critical components.
Daily Maintenance (After Each Use)
Daily maintenance is mandatory after every bonding session and forms the foundation of equipment care:
- Clean the work area: Wipe the heating table, work surface, and vacuum chuck with dust-free paper dipped in absolute ethanol to remove gold wire debris, welding slag, dust, and contaminants.
- Clean key consumable components: Clean the outer wall and tip of the ceramic nozzle carefully — never poke the inner hole with hard objects. Wipe the tip of the igniter rod to remove oxide layers and metal carbon deposits. Clean residual gold wire debris in the wire clamp and wire guide.
- Check air circuit and power supply: Turn off the air source and check whether air pipes show signs of leaking or aging. Organize power cords to avoid extrusion and damage.
- Equipment reset and dust prevention: Return the welding head to the safe position and cover the equipment with a dust cover to prevent dust from entering guide rails and optical systems.
- Fill in use records: Record operating time, personnel, equipment status, and any abnormal conditions for traceability.
Weekly Maintenance (After Weekly Training)
Weekly maintenance ensures sustained precision and reliability:
- Air circuit system: Drain water and impurities from the oil-water separator. Verify air source pressure stability — ensure pressure stays within 0.4–0.6 MPa range.
- Tension and wire feeding system: Clean the tension wheel and tension arm to ensure smooth rotation without jamming. Check that the wire clamp opens and closes normally without deformation.
- Ignition rod and ball burning calibration: Re-calibrate gap and height of the igniter rod. Test free ball burning for roundness and stability, eliminating offset and ball explosion problems.
- Vision system cleaning: Wipe microscope lens with specialized lens paper to remove fingerprints and oil stains for clear observation.
- Vacuum adsorption system: Clean suction cup micro-hole blockages and test adsorption force to ensure firm sample clamping without displacement.
Special Maintenance for Key Components
Heating Stage Care
Avoid sudden cooling or impact at high temperature. Regularly check the heating plate and temperature sensing probe to prevent temperature runaway conditions that could damage bonded devices.
Ultrasonic Transducer Care
Keep dry and clean at all times — avoid liquid penetration. Never knock or drop the transducer, as this can damage the internal vibration plate and compromise bonding quality.
EFO Ignition Module Care
Maintain clean igniter rod tips to prevent abnormal high-voltage discharge. Avoid frequent continuous ignition cycles to extend module service life.
Wire Clamp and Tensioner Care
Regularly check clamping piece wear and adjust tension evenly. Prevent wire from being too tight (causing breakage), too loose (causing feeding issues), or detached ends.
Consumable Storage Guidelines
- Gold wire: Store in a dry, dark, dust-proof environment. Wear anti-static gloves when handling to prevent oxidation, contamination, and moisture absorption.
- Ceramic nozzles: Handle with care and avoid bumping. Store in dedicated protective boxes when not in use to protect tips and prevent dust entering inner holes.
- Ignition rods: Clean immediately if oxidized or blackened. Replace promptly if seriously worn to ensure stable ball formation.
Maintenance Taboos
- Never use corrosive cleaners such as acetone, strong acids, or strong alkalis on equipment surfaces.
- Never poke or wipe ceramic nozzle inner holes with hard objects like blades, needles, or tweezers.
- Never apply excessive lubricating oil that could contaminate samples or the heating stage.
- Never disassemble core components such as ultrasonic, ignition, or control modules without proper authorization.
- Never operate equipment continuously with known faults or heavy dirt accumulation.
