Case Study
Semiconductor Test Equipment Frame with Controlled Gaps
Semiconductor Test Equipment Rack with Precision Assembly Gap Control | AP TECH Project
AP TECH builds semiconductor inspection and test equipment. It runs in a cleanroom, where gaps collect dust and hide contamination and raise cleaning cost. Uneven door gaps and misaligned panels also undermine the sealing performance and the appearance of high-end equipment. This delivery was a split upper and lower frame with a machined mounting plate between them, requiring high rigidity, a high-precision mounting face and uniformly controlled assembly gaps. Metal structures only.
| Customer | AP TECH (Korea) |
|---|---|
| Industry | Semiconductor test and electronics manufacturing equipment |
| Scope | Split upper and lower equipment frames with a machined mounting plate (metal structures only) |
| Core processes | Frame welding, gantry milling, assembly gap control, powder coating |
Rigidity, a precision datum and uniform gaps
- High-rigidity split frame — Square tube with sheet metal skin and internal stiffening gives the frame its stiffness and vibration resistance; stress relief after welding limits long-term distortion so the equipment datum stays put.
- Gantry-machined mounting face — The intermediate mounting plate is machined in one clamping operation on a 6.5 m gantry, reaching flatness of ≤0.02 mm/m and hole position of ±0.01 mm — a stable, high-precision datum for the granite plate.
- Precision fitting to the granite plate — The machined face is fitted and matched against the customer's granite plate so the contact is even without local gaps; locating pins keep the plate accurately positioned, protecting test accuracy at the assembly stage.
- Uniform assembly gap control — Double door seals with even gaps of ≤0.2 mm, unified tolerance on panel and module joints, leaving no dust traps and no visible misalignment — easier to clean and consistent in appearance.
What this project demonstrates
- A precision datum — A gantry-machined mounting face at micrometre-level flatness with accurate holes gives the tester a stable base, which is what test repeatability depends on.
- Granite plate that actually fits — Matching the metal face to the granite plate keeps contact even and alignment accurate, cutting assembly error on the customer's side.
- Gap control as a design requirement — Uniform gaps across doors and panels reduce dust traps for cleanroom cleaning and raise the finish quality of a high-end machine.
- Rigid, vibration-damped frame — Stiffened welding with stress relief plus levelling feet reduces the effect of ambient vibration on measurement.
Next step
Send your drawings and quantity — an engineer, not a sales script, comes back with a quotation covering material, tooling, surface finish and lead time.
Send your drawings and quantity — you will get a quotation with lead time, not a sales script.