Extend the Life of Your Probe Tips and Probe Holders

Micromanipulator not only sells the finest selection of probe tips and probe holders but we also provide information to help extend the life of our products.  Using the proper cleaning techniques and protecting your probe tips from corrosion will help to maintain the integrity of your test probes and probe holders and ensure their optimal performance.  

In our Probe Tips and Probe Holders Reference Manual (available on our website), we go over the various techniques for cleaning and protecting your products.  However please note that the procedures for corrosion protection and cleaning differ depending on the material of the probe tips and holders.    

To clean your probe holders, we recommend applying a methanol solution to the tip of the holder with a swab or other suitable applicator.  Do not soak the holder in the solution.  After you have applied the methanol, bake the shank at 200o F-300o F for a minimum of 6 hours.    

To remove deposits from one of our tungsten, tungsten carbide, nickel tips and HCT tips as well as a platinum-coated custom probe tip, first rinse it in deionized water and then use compressed air to dry the excess water from the tip.  If you need to remove oxide deposits, we suggest dipping the probe tip into a 1.0 solution of normal sodium hydroxide (NaOH) for a few seconds.  Again rinse the tip with deionized water and dry with compressed air.      

To remove deposits from one of our beryllium copper probe tips, follow the same steps as for our tungsten tips, rinsing in deionized water and using compressed air to dry.  If you need to remove oxide deposits from a beryllium copper tip, wash the tip in a 10% w/w sodium carbonate solution (NA2CO3) and rinse in deionized water.  Do not dry the tip but instead use a 10% v/v nitric acid solution (HNO3) and dip the tip until a reaction occurs.  Now it is ready to dry with compressed air.   

This is just a sampling of the suggestions and recommendations from our Probe Tips and Probe Holders Reference Manual.  Please see our website for more information and to view our wide assortment of quality probe holders and probe tips, many of which can now be ordered online.  

At Micromanipulator, we not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but are still the top name in the field.  As such we reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semiconductor industry depends on.  A key part of our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to customers’ satisfaction.  Please contact us to learn more about our wide range of probe stations and accessories. 

Request a Quote Online

After narrowing down your choice of Micromanipulator’s various models of probe stations as well as accessories, we invite you to fill out our online “Request a Quotation” form to find out the cost of the equipment you are most interested in.  In order to best understand your needs, we ask that you fill out the form as complete as possible.  Also be sure to include your preferred contact method and availability.

The form asks questions (just check the appropriate box) regarding the product category you would like a quotation for including: wafer probe station, application board probe station, accessories, and thermal chucks as well as information on our product service and support.  It is also helpful to know your areas of interest in failure analysis, wafer level reliability, device characterization, process modeling and process monitoring (i.e. CV).   

Our additional optional survey is designed to allow us to narrow down your application needs.  For example, we ask what type of measurements do you want to make such as RF; V (current/voltage); CV (capacitance/voltage), etc.   It is also helpful to advise you on equipment if we know the size of your wafers.  And are you planning to probe current below 1pA, and if you require temperature testing, to what temperature?  

Furthermore, Micromanipulator’s engineers are ready to answer any questions you may have and are a quick call away.  Also remember as a global company, we have sales representatives located around the world to provide expert advice and sales help.  When you do decide to buy our products, we offer factory warranties and onsite support. 

Micromanipulator not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but we remain the leading name in the field.  As such we reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semiconductor industry depends on.  As part of our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to customers’ satisfaction.  We invite you to contact us to find out more about our wide range of probe stations, accessories and consumables.        

Disposable Probe Tips

For better efficiency and ease-of-use, we encourage you to take a look at Micromanipulator’s wide-ranging selection of disposable probe tips.  Our product line includes tips designed, engineered, and manufactured by us in response to the various needs of our customers.  

This means you will find reliable needle probes suitable for a broad range of applications.  Our probe tips are designed for general probing; low resistance; high power; compliant, thermal applications; sub-micron targets; delicate target or surface; and cutting. Also remember, our disposable tips offer the advantage of quick replacement and eliminate the down time associated with re-sharpening.    

For most probing applications, we recommend our high-quality nickel or tungsten shanked and tungsten tipped probe tips.  However, we also manufacture fine tips, small targets with ‘C’ bend, or very small targets with a bendable nickel or Dumet shank cat-whisker probe tips.  Please go to Micromanipulator’s website to see our full inventory of needles and probe holders and refer to our reference chart for recommendations regarding applications.   

Furthermore, if we do not have what you need, it easy to custom order a probe tip from our Model 7B Series Customizable Probe Tips available at our online store.  You select a point radius in a gold-plated tungsten or tungsten version.  If your preference is a probe holder with a built-in probe tip, we suggest one of our most popular versions, the Model 44.  We think it is so versatile that is could almost be considered a customized probe.     

If it has been a while since you last visited Micromanipulator’s website, we encourage you to do so and to take a look at our changes.  Along with constantly developing new, innovative products, we now have an ecommerce store to order products online 24/7. 

 Micromanipulator not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but we are the leading name in the field. We reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semiconductor industry depends on. Part of our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. We offer one of the most comprehensive range of probe stations on the market today as well the consumables, accessories and on-site support you require.        

The Experts Explain “Proven Techniques for Thermal Probing”

The goal of the Micromanipulator Company is to provide the semiconductor industry with the cutting-edge tools they need to develop the products of the future.  Our high-quality products allow our customers to focus on the data, not on the performance of the prober.   

In addition we provide specifications and details regarding what type of applications our products are best suited for as well as how to get the most out of our tools.  One important resource is our Application Notes that discuss in detail a myriad of common application problems encountered by users along with information on how to most effectively use Micromanipulator’s products.       

A prime example is our Application Note titled; Proven Techniques for Thermal Probing that provides expert recommendations for customers that use a hot stage for elevated temperature probing or CV Measurement.   A common problem of this type of probing is the uncontrolled movement that can cause the probe to slide or jump off its contact resulting in a movement of up to one mil at any location on a six or eight-inch wafer.  Along with thoroughly discussing and analyzing the causes and effects of these kinds of problems, we offer effective equipment solutions. 

In addition to exploring the problem of movement of a device under the probe and the probe point due to thermal expansion, we give you solutions for maintaining probe contact during temperature stressing of wafers.  This includes discussing the merits of several of our probe holders and the advantages of each one.  Our primary advice is “a little technique can go a long way” when it comes to probing all forms of small geometries, and that with a little experimenting, operators will find the most suitable probing angle and/ or technique.   

We encourage you to visit our website and read through our complete hot stage probing techniques.  Finally if you still have questions, please give us a call as we not only manufacture our probe stations, accessories, and consumables, but we design and engineer them to meet our customers’ needs.     

Micromanipulator not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but we reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semiconductor industry depends on.  Part of our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to customer satisfaction. Along with offering one of the best selections of probe stations on the market today, we also have all of the consumables, accessories and on-site support you need.