Patent ID: 6482073
Filing Date: 2002-11-19
Classification: B24B

Abstract:
A method of polishing a semiconductor wafer comprising the steps of:applying a polishing chemistry to a polishing media; moving said semiconductor wafer such that a surface of said semiconductor wafer comes in contact with a surface of said polishing media; polishing said surface of said semiconductor wafer; removing said semiconductor wafer from said polishing media; moving a pad conditioner in contact with a surface of said polishing media; and abrading said surface of said polishing media with said pad conditioner, wherein one of the steps of moving said semiconductor wafer and abrading said surface of said polishing media is done using a lubricationless translation mechanism comprising: a housing; a threaded shaft rotatably coupled to said housing; a moveable mount; a polymer translation nut threaded to said threaded shaft and coupled to said moveable mount; a plurality of polymer bearings coupled to said moveable mount; and a plurality of bearing shafts coupled to said housing wherein each bearing shaft of said plurality of bearing shafts is coupled through a corresponding polymer bearing of said plurality of polymer bearings and wherein said plurality of bearing shafts are parallel to said threaded shaft.