Original URL: https://www.theregister.com/1999/03/01/intel_makes_the_register_sweat/

Intel makes The Register sweat IV

Part IV: Photos from the fab inc. Mike Magee in bunny suit NB Graphics intensive

By Mike Magee

Posted in On-Prem, 1st March 1999 09:40 GMT

Intel does not allow any cameras inside its fab besides from its own for obvious reasons. We did point out to them that these days you can get really good cameras that will fit in your tie if you're wearing one, but we didn't have one of those... Diffusion area A technician carries a lot box of wafers down an alleyway of diffusion surfaces. He or she is coming from the photographic area (see colour at back). The furnaces grow layers of oxide on the wafers and the oxide is then etched using a pattern photographically imprinted on the surface in a later step. See the robots on each of the technician loading and unloading the furnaces. Etch area Here a technician unloads a boat of wafers from the lot box for processing in acid baths in the tanks behind him or her. The acid tanks etch unwanted portions of the surface of the wafers. The robot arm in the background carries the boats from tank to tank, so the human being can avoid being near the very nasty acids. Intel has new Hitachi machines which are completely closed off from the bay. Thin Film area The human being in bunny suit loads a metal sputtering tool with a boat of wafers. The tools deposit layers of metal that will make connections in the minute circuits. The floor is a vent, with filtered air travelling from the ceiling's HEPA filters. The air system is on the next floor above the clean room. This is to avoid human and other particulates spoiling the wafers Mike Magee area Here we see Mike Magee in the garb of an Intel technician but without his crash helmet. The strange red eyes are due to the Intel photographer not being a very good one. And here's Mike Magee in bunny suit in Fab 11. Note the arrays of $700 suits behind him. Now there's something better inside.