Patent ID: 8089055

Claim:
A machine for slicing workpieces with an ion beam, comprising: a. a target vacuum chamber, b. an ion beam of preselected energy, c. a first carousel inside said target vacuum chamber adapted for circulating a plurality of workpieces, numbering M, through said ion beam, d. a plurality of stations comprising at least: i. a workpiece swapping station, ii. a cleaving station, e. a second carousel adapted for circulating workpieces sequentially from station to station, f. a workpiece swapping means operable for transferring an implanted workpiece from said first carousel to said workpiece swapping station of said second carousel, and transferring a fresh workpiece from said workpiece swapping station of said second carousel to said first carousel, wherein: i. said first carousel is repeatedly advanced by N workpieces, exposing some workpieces to said ion beam and implanting ions in a layer at a preselected depth therein, ii. following each advancement, said workpiece swapping means transfers an implanted workpiece from said first carousel to said workpiece swapping station of said second carousel, and transfers a fresh workpiece from said workpiece swapping station of said second carousel to said first carousel, iii. upon receiving said implanted workpiece, said second carousel is advanced, moving each of its workpieces to a subsequent station, and thereby moving one workpiece to said cleaving station, wherein workpiece material above said layer is separated from the underlying workpiece, thereby forming a slice, whereby each workpiece is repeatedly implanted and cleaved, producing a plurality of slices.