Patent ID: 6152803
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B23D,B24B,B28D

Abstract:
A method for dicing a substrate using a programmable dicing saw having a processor operable for movement of the spindle and work surface, wherein movement of the dicing blade toward and away from the work surface is controlled by movements within an orthogonal coordinate system having its center at a center location of the work surface, the method comprising the steps of:mounting a dicing blade onto a dicing saw spindle juxtaposed between a flange pair for rotation of the dicing blade about a spindle axis, wherein the dicing blade has an outer diameter defining a cutting edge, and wherein the outer diameter of the dicing blade is greater than each flange diameter of the flange pair for providing a blade exposure for cutting into a substrate;removably securing a substrate onto a work surface and within a blade path of the dicing blade;aligning the dicing blade with a first edge of the substrate for determining a substrate first edge location on the work surface;aligning the dicing blade with a second edge of the substrate for determining a substrate second edge location on the work surface, wherein the first edge laterally opposes the second edge and the rotational axis of the dicing blade is perpendicular to the blade paths along the first and second edges;rotating the substrate ninety degrees about an axis perpendicular thereto;aligning the dicing blade with a third edge of the rotated substrate for determining a substrate third edge location on the work surface, wherein the blade path along the third edge is perpendicular to the blade path along the first edge;aligning the dicing blade with a fourth edge of the substrate for determining a substrate fourth edge location on the work surface, wherein the third edge laterally opposes the fourth edge;entering edge location data representative of the substrate first, second, third, and fourth edge locations into the processor for determining a center of the substrate;determining a distance between the center of the substrate and the center of the work surface for providing a compensating command to the programmable dicing saw;positioning the dicing blade over the center of the substrate;moving the spindle relative to the center of the substrate for positioning the dicing blade based on the compensating command;aligning the dicing blade for making a cut into the substrate along a first blade path;dicing the substrate along the first blade path, the blade outer diameter reducing with each cut into the substrate, thus reducing the blade exposure, and further reducing a clearance between the flange pair and a substrate top surface for each subsequent cut;aligning the dicing blade for making a cut into the substrate along a second blade path;dicing the substrate along the second blade path; andcalculating the flange clearance by measuring the blade exposure after a preselected number of cuts for monitoring the flange clearance for the substrate dicing step.