Instruction/ maintenance manual of the product SQM-160 Sigma
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SQM-160 Rate/Thickness Monitor User’s Guide Version 2.0 © Copyright Sigma Instruments, Inc. 2000 Σ Σ Sigma instruments.
Safety Information Read this manual before installing, operating, or servicing this equipment. Do not install substitute parts, or perform any unauthorized modification of the product. Return the product to Sigma Instruments for service and repair to ensure that safety features are maintained.
Warranty Information This Sigma Instruments product is warranted against defects in material and workmanship for a period of 1 year from the date of shipment, when used in accordance with the instructions in this manual. During the warranty period, Sigma Instruments will, at its option, either repair or replace products that prove to be defective.
Table of Contents Chapter 1 Quick Start 1.0 Introduction .................................................................................................................. 1-1 1.1 Installation ..........................................................
Chapter 5 Maintenance 5.0 Introduction ................................................................................................................... 5-1 5.1 Fuse Replacement .......................................................................
Chapter 1 Quick Start 1- 1 1.0 Introduction Congratulations on your purchase of the SQM-160 Deposition Rate/Thickness Monitor. The SQM-160 is an easy-to-use instrument for measuring many types of thin film coatings. This chapter will help to get you up and running quickly.
Chapter 1 Quick Start 1- 2 1.2 Front Panel Front Panel Controls Display 1 Displays rate and thickness in normal operation. Displays setup parameter name in program mode. Display 2 Displays deposition time in normal operation. Displays setup parameter value in program mode.
Chapter 1 Quick Start 1- 3 1.3 Rear Panel Rear Panel Connections Sensor 1 & 2 Connection to quartz crystal sensor remote oscillator. See Section 1.4 for detailed hookup. RS-232 Connection to computer serial port for programming and data acquisition.
Chapter 1 Quick Start 1- 4 1.4 System Connections The diagram and table below identifies typical vacuum system components and their function. System Components Sensor Holds the quartz crystal used to measure rate and thickness. Crystals must be replaced occasionally.
Chapter 1 Quick Start 1- 5 1.5 Film Setup This section will help you setup the SQM-160 to measure a film. Refer to Chapter 2 for detailed film programming instructions. Note: User actions with front panel controls are indicated by a B ox . Results shown on displays, are indicated by a D ashed Box .
Chapter 1 Quick Start 1- 6 1.6 Depositing a Film If you have followed this Quick Start chapter, you are ready to deposit a film. Follow the procedure below to begin deposition. Verify Sensor Operation Verify that the Crystal Status LED for the measuring sensor is lit, and not flashing.
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 1 2.0 Introduction This section details the operation of the SQM-160 menus and front panel controls. It is arranged by common user tasks. Note: User actions with front panel controls are indicated by a B ox . Results shown on displays, are indicated by a D ashed Box .
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 2 2.2 Film Parameters Setup The Film Parameters Menu programs the SQM-160 for the materials that will be deposited as thin films. Nine films can be stored, but only one film is active at any time. To program film parameters: 1. Press P rogram to enter program mode.
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 3 The diagram and table below detail the parameters available in the Film Parameters Menu: Display Description Range Default Units DENSITY Density of the material being deposited. 0.5 – 99.99 1.00 gm/cc TOOLING Overall tooling Factor for this film.
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 4 2.3 System Parameters Setup The System Parameters Menu sets values that pertain to the overall functioning of the SQM-160, and to your vacuum system’s setup. System parameters are constant for all films. 1. Press P rogram to enter program mode.
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 5 Display Description Range Default Units TIMEBASE Time required to take a single measurement 0.15 – 2.00 0.25 sec SIM MODE Simulates sensors.
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 6 Display Description Range Default Units xTOOLING Tooling value assigned to each sensor. See the Sensor Tooling section of this chapter for information on setting tooling values. 10 – 399 100 % FMIN/MAX Sub-Menu to select Crystal Frequency Limits FREQ MIN Minimum Crystal Frequency 4.
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 7 2.4 Sensor Selection The SQM-160 comes standard with two sensor inputs. Four additional sensors are available by adding a Sensor Option Card. The sensors can each be assigned to a different film, or multiple sensors can be averaged for a single film.
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 8 2.5 Sensor Min/Max Frequency The Sensor Min/Max frequencies establish the operating range for the sensing quartz crystals. Both values are used to determine the % life that is displayed in Xtal Life mode.
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 9 2.6 Sensor Tooling Sensor Tooling adjusts for the difference in deposition rate between the sensor and the substrate being coated.
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 10 2.7 Rate/Thickness or Frequency Display The SQM-160 determines deposition rate and thickness by measuring the frequency shift of a crystal oscillator over time. In some applications, the actual crystal frequency is desired. Displaying crystal frequency can also be useful in troubleshooting sensor operation.
Chapter 2 Operation 2- 11 2.9 Zero Thickness Before starting each film deposition, you will probably want to reset the SQM-160 Thickness value to zero. To zero Thickness: 1. Press the Z ero switch in the front panel Control section. In addition to zeroing Thickness, pressing the Zero switch has these effects: 1.
Chapter 3 Options 3- 1 3.0 Introduction The SQM-160 has two slots to accommodate option cards. The Option A slot holds a Four Sensor Card, which expands the SQM-160 inputs to a total of six quartz crystal sensors. The Option B Analog Output Card provides Rate and Thickness outputs for connection to strip chart recorders.
Chapter 3 Options 3- 2 3.2 Four Sensor Card The SQM-160 automatically detects the presence of the Four Sensor Card. Refer to System Connections in Chapter 1 for sensor hookup information. Refer to Chapter 2, Sensor Selection , to assign Four Sensor Card sensors to a film.
Chapter 4 MonComm Software 4- 1 4.0 Introduction Included with the SQM-160 is a Windows 95/98 program, MonComm. MonComm is used to setup instrument parameters, graph, and save instrument readings. 4.1 Installation 1. Insert installation Disk 1 into your computer’s A Drive.
Chapter 4 MonComm Software 4- 2 4.3 Add and Delete Films To add a new film to the Films List: 1. Click the New Film button. 2. A film named NewFilm# will be added to the end of the films list. 3. Click on this film to highlight it. 4. Change the name of the film - up to eight characters are allowed.
Chapter 4 MonComm Software 4- 3 4.4 Download Films To add or replace a film in the Download List: 1. Highlight the desired film by clicking on it in the Films list box. 2. Highlight the desired position for the film in the Download List box. 3. Click on the Add Film button.
Chapter 4 MonComm Software 4- 4 4.5 Graph Data The SQM-160 graphs are accessed by clicking the Graph button. Two graphs of data from the SQM-160 can be displayed. The first displays the average rate of all active channels versus time. The second graph displays each individual channel’s rate versus time.
Chapter 4 MonComm Software 4- 5 To Adjust the Graph’s Scope: 1 Select the Configure menu followed by the Graph sub menu item to display the graphs configuration form. 2. Adjust the graph minimums and maximums as desired. The X and Y divisions determine the number of ticks between graph numerical markings and grid placement for each axis.
Chapter 4 MonComm Software 4- 6 4.7 Edit System Parameters System Parameters are accessed by clicking on the Config menu item followed by the System sub menu. All of the system parameters, except Baud Rate, are available for edit. The system parameters are downloaded to the SQM-160 by clicking on the Update Parameters button.
Chapter 5 Maintenance 5- 1 5.0 Introduction W ARNING : There are no user adjustments, or serviceable parts, inside the SQM-160. For maintenance or repair, contact Sigma Instruments 1318 Duff Drive Fort Collins, CO 80524 USA 970-416-9660 5.1 Fuse Replacement W ARNING : Remove the power cable before replacing the fuse.
Appendix A. Material Parameters Material Density ZFactor Material Density ZFactor Aluminum 2.73 1.08 Manganese 7.2 0.377 Aluminum Oxide 3.97 1 Manganese Sulfide 3.99 0.94 Antimony 6.66 0.766 Mercury 13.46 0.74 Arsenic 2.9 0.966 Molybdenum 10.2 0.257 Barium 3.
Appendix B. Specifications Measurement Number of Sensors Frequency Range Frequency Accuracy Frequency Resolution Rate Accuracy Rate Resolution Thickness Accuracy Thickness Resolution Measurement Filter Measurement Period 2 standard, plus 4 optional 4.
Appendix C. I/O Connections A 15-pin female D-sub connector is included with the instrument to connect digital I/O to the SQM-160 Relay I/O connector. The figure below shows the solder side pin assignments for the connector. Relay I/O Connector Rear View Relays are rated for 125VAC or 30VDC, 2A maximum.
Appendix D. Declaration of Conformity Manufacturer’s Name: Sigma Instruments Manufacturer’s Address: 1318 Duff Drive Fort Collins, CO 80524 USA declares that the product: Product Name: Rate/Thickn.
An important point after buying a device Sigma SQM-160 (or even before the purchase) is to read its user manual. We should do this for several simple reasons:
If you have not bought Sigma SQM-160 yet, this is a good time to familiarize yourself with the basic data on the product. First of all view first pages of the manual, you can find above. You should find there the most important technical data Sigma SQM-160 - thus you can check whether the hardware meets your expectations. When delving into next pages of the user manual, Sigma SQM-160 you will learn all the available features of the product, as well as information on its operation. The information that you get Sigma SQM-160 will certainly help you make a decision on the purchase.
If you already are a holder of Sigma SQM-160, but have not read the manual yet, you should do it for the reasons described above. You will learn then if you properly used the available features, and whether you have not made any mistakes, which can shorten the lifetime Sigma SQM-160.
However, one of the most important roles played by the user manual is to help in solving problems with Sigma SQM-160. Almost always you will find there Troubleshooting, which are the most frequently occurring failures and malfunctions of the device Sigma SQM-160 along with tips on how to solve them. Even if you fail to solve the problem, the manual will show you a further procedure – contact to the customer service center or the nearest service center
