Sunday, April 30, 2017

Custom Probe Holders Available on Request


Early on Micromanipulator got in the habit of listening to our customers, and we have not stopped doing so over our more than 60 years in business.  Hearing firsthand from system users has allowed us to address their specific needs by designing, engineering and manufacturing a broad range of high-tech probe stations and accessories and consumables.    

One of our product lines we are very proud of is our selection of probe holders.  A probe holder is the metal shaft (either straight or bent) that holds the probe tip on one end and is held in place by the manipulator collet shaft at the other end.  Most of our probe holders secure the probe tip with a pin jack or a set screw probe mount but we also have probe holders with a shaft lock that secures the probe tip by sliding the closure handle toward the probe point.  Your decision of which probe holder to buy will depend on your test requirements, and you will find our selection includes single wire, coaxial, triaxial, certified triax and Kelvin configurations. 

While most of our customers readily find solutions for their most technical requirements within our large inventory of smartly-designed probe holders, occasionally a more exact configuration is required.  We address this problem by offering custom probe holders to ensure customers get the exact product they need.   Just give us a call and ask for a “Custom Probe Holder Request” form to start the process.     

We also want you to assure you that our probe holders and probe tips are built with the same high-quality standards as our probe stations and other accessories.  Right from the start, Micromanipulator’s goal has been to design and produce products that meet the needs of our customers.   Please contact us to talk to one of our highly knowledgeable engineers. 

Micromanipulator not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but we are leaders in the field and reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semi-conductor industry depends on. Our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. For one of the most comprehensive selections of probe stations, consumables and accessories on the market, please see our website.           

Sunday, April 23, 2017

Honoring the Achievements of a Middle School’s “Jedi Engineers”


Recently the Micromanipulator Company was proud to host the award-winning 2016-17 Eagle Valley Middle School Jedi Engineers of Carson City as well as school district officials, local businesses, families and friends.  The March 16th event was held at our facility with the intent to recognize the Jedi Engineers’ robotics achievements.  Each member of the group was presented with a proclamation from the Western Manufacturing Alliance that names them as the first “WMA Junior Technology Advancement Partners.”
The accomplishments thus far from the team was to win the First Place Champion’s Award at the Northern Nevada FIRST LEGO League (FLL) Championship that took place earlier this year.  The Jedi Engineers will next represent Nevada at the FLL World festival that will take place this month in Houston, Texas as well as at the FLL International Championship that will be held this summer in Bath, England.
During the celebration at Micromanipulator’s facility, the team gave us a demonstration of their award-winning FLL robot.  The Jedi Engineers also presented us with their innovative solution for animal shelters that would cost-effectively address the problem of shelter dogs coming in a variety of sizes.  Their solution was to design configurable cages with easy-to size, movable plexiglass walls that would make the animals more comfortable and provide visibility to one another. Both factors have been shown to reduce the dogs’ anxiety.
The event was emceed by Micromanipulator’s CEO/President, Mike Jackson, along with his wife, Kathy Jackson.  Mike is President of the Northern Nevada Development Authority Executive Board as well as a member of the WMA Executive Board.  Both he and his wife are active members of the Carson City Schools Foundation.
Mike explains that, “Micromanipulator was proud to host the Jedi Engineers so they could share the amazing amount of work they have put into their projects, along with the knowledge and capabilities they have learned from their efforts and dedication.”   He goes on to say that, “The business and technical challenges faced by these remarkable students are similar to those that entrepreneurs and startups have to deal with. Responding with determination, persistence and innovative thinking, the Jedi Engineers worked through the difficulties and emerged as winners.”
Micromanipulator not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but we are leaders in the field and reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semi-conductor industry depends on. Our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. For one of the most comprehensive selections of probe stations, consumables and accessories on the market, please see our website.

Sunday, April 16, 2017

We Make it Easy to Buy the Semiconductor Tools You Need


At Micromanipulator we keep making it easier and easier for system users to get the best tools in the industry.  Along with having a very informative, detailed website, we also supply lots of personal support to assist you in purchasing one of our state-of-the-art probe stations.  Recently we even opened a demonstration facility in California that offers the opportunity to evaluate the performance and capabilities of Micromanipulator tools in a real world setting.  Also a few months ago our online store was launched to give our customers the added convenience and flexibility they have been asking for.   

Another way we offer our customers’ assistance with purchasing the optimal tools for their needs is to provide an online Request Quotation form. Along with your personal contact information and availability, we ask that you answer some basic questions to get the process started in the right direction. 

Obviously we need to know the product category you would like a quotation for such as: a wafer probe station, application board probe station, accessories, thermal chuck or product service/support.  Next it is helpful to know your area of interest such as failure analysis, wafer level reliability, device characterization, process modeling or process monitoring (i.e. CV).  We also like to know if you are currently using probing equipment. 

There are additional questions that are optional but can help to further narrow down your needs so we encourage you to visit our website and take a look at it.  Manipulator is proud of the fact that we design, engineer and manufacture an extensive line of accessories and consumables that will help outfit your probe station to not only meet your application needs but your budget and personal preferences as well.  Furthermore, while our products are sold worldwide, they are proudly produced at our Carson City, NV plant.  Contact us to learn more.   

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 the company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to customers’ satisfaction.  Please contact us to find out more about our exceptional line of probe stations and accessories.        

Tuesday, April 11, 2017

Our Customer Service Now Includes an Ecommerce Site


Throughout our 60+ years, Micromanipulator has been one of the most reliable manufacturers for the semiconductor industry.  To maintain our leadership position, we have used our extensive analytical probing experience to develop new, innovative products that continue to meet the demands of an ever-evolving industry.  Additionally our focus has always included listening and learning from our customers and to provide excellent service.  

We begin by helping our customers protect their investments with extended warranties, preventative maintenance programs and upgrade paths (even for obsolete tools!).  Also our newly launched ecommerce store allows customers worldwide to easily and securely order Micromanipulator products including pin holders, probe positioners/manipulators, probe tips, patch cords and more 24/7. 

Another thing that sets us apart from our competitors is that Micromanipulator has never been content to rest on our laurels, but rather we continue to design, engineer and manufacture new products such as our 2210-LS Application Board Probe Station.  The patented 2210-LS combines traditional wafer probe to the device exercising capabilities of the application board and has full accessory support available. 

Our leadership role in the industry also includes being the first to pioneer the integration of thermal chucks with probe stations and we continue to lead with the development of products such as the H1000 series thermal chuck.  This Micromanipulator exclusive design offers customers the best planarity, lowest noise, and lowest cost of ownership available in the market. Furthermore, once you browse our products, you will discover that many of our probe stations and accessories offer features not found in other manufacturers’ products. 

We encourage you to visit our website to learn more.  If you have further questions regarding our products, we are happy to assist you in whatever way we can - just fill out our contact form or give us a call.  

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 the company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to customers’ satisfaction.  Please contact us to find out more about our exceptional line of probe stations and accessories.        

Friday, March 24, 2017

A High-quality Probe Station for Our Cost Conscious Customers


While we offer the industry’s widest range of probe stations such as our patented 2210-LS Application Board Probe Station and our P200L (200mm) Semiautomatic, we also have a great selection of economical general-purpose manual models.  These reliable stations are an excellent choice for those on a budget and offer the same type of performance we have built our reputation on.   

If you are looking for a probe station with a low purchase price and a low cost of ownership, may we suggest our 450PM (150–200mm) Manual Analytical 8” model?  It is suitable for many types of applications and is designed for system users who do not require low current capability or the precise positioning of our 4000 and 8000 series.  In addition the 450PM has many accessory options available and is hot chuck compatible (field upgradeable). 
Its design is based on our popular 4060 model and offers users a reliable, stable probing performance and extensive application coverage.  With all of the 450’s flexible options, it has quickly become the probe station of choice for cost conscious labs worldwide.  The 450 features manual lead screw control of the stage that offers stable, quick positioning as well as an ergonomic, compact design for ease of use.  Micromanipulator’s economical 450PM-MW (150-200mm) is designed for users who require a compound microscope. The 450PM-HR features the high stability of the 4060/8000 series microscope bridge structure and supports high resolution microscopes.  

We encourage you to take a look at our website to see the complete specifications and details regarding this popular design.  Micromanipulator offers a broad range of probe stations for almost any testing application and we are always working on developing new products.  Also be sure to check out our excellent selection of accessories and consumables. 

Micromanipulator not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but we are leaders in the field and reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semi-conductor industry depends on. Our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. For one of the most comprehensive selections of probe stations, consumables and accessories on the market, please see our website.           

Sunday, March 19, 2017

Tools Designed for All Types of Wafer Probe Testing


Within our line of Specialty, Semi-automatic, High-performance, and General-purpose Manual probe stations, Micromanipulator has designed and developed tools that meet the needs of even the most cutting-edge applications.  We have products for applications ranging from low current all the way to high speed testing.   

By addressing the demands of the industry, our R&D encompasses a broad range of capabilities including: low current / low noise measurement, failure analysis, and high and low temperature characterization.  We also specialize in tools that offer device reliability analysis such as Interconnect, EM, HCI, Charge Pumping, NBTI, PBTI, and TDDB. 

Furthermore, among our comprehensive selection, you will find probe stations and accessories designed for high speed digital analysis and high frequency testing up to 200GHz.  System users also rely on Micromanipulator for high-quality probers for C-V measurements, sub-micron probing, ESD wafer level testing, laser cutting, and high power device analysis. 

To ensure our customers’ success, we offer Application Notes that address a broad range of issues as well as troubleshoot common problems.  Our Application Notes include topics such as CV Probing; Identifying Low Current Probing Problems; and Low Current Probing Basics.  You will also find notes on LCR Measurements with 4284A; LTE and Vibration Isolation Table Integration; and Proven Techniques for Thermal Probing.  

As a leading manufacture for over 60 years, our products have grown with the industry including proudly pioneering the integration of thermal chucks with probe stations.  We have been around to witness the evolution of belt-driven stages to today’s high resolution lead screw lead nut designs and microscope magnifications of few hundred times to tools that support >2000X magnification levels.  Please visit our website and take a look at our new e-commerce site that now makes it easy to buy probe tips, probe holders, manipulators, and more online. 

Micromanipulator not only invented analytical probing in 1956 but we are leaders in the field and reliably deliver the tools and life cycle support the semi-conductor industry depends on. Our company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to our customers’ satisfaction. For one of the most comprehensive selections of probe stations, consumables and accessories on the market, please see our website.           

Sunday, March 12, 2017

Offering Exceptional Value to Our Customers




Micromanipulator proudly provides the semiconductor industry the tools it needs.  To ensure client success, we offer full life-cycle support that begins in the concept process and continues throughout the maintenance of our customers’ systems.  Along with multiple models of probe stations and a wide range of accessories and consumables engineered by our talented team, we provide customers with professional on-site support. 

Our comprehensive selection of analytical probing hardware, includes our patented 2210-LS Application Board Probe Station that is the most versatile probe station on the market today.  Once you visit our website, you will get a feel for the state-of-the-art technology that goes into each probe stations as well as our other smartly-designed products.   

Some of the things that set us apart from other manufacturers are our probe stations that remove the “burden of performance” from system operators and allow users to focus on the data they are collecting, not the prober.  In addition we take a systems approach to integration by offering users the best high-tech thermal management and flexibility, vibration isolation, material selections, open architectures and much more.   All of our options let customers customize and configure a prober to meets their specific needs. 

Also you may be unaware that we now have a new California demonstration facility in the Bay Area that provides the opportunity to evaluate the capabilities and performance of Micromanipulator’s tools in a real world setting.  The first tool we have installed at the hub is Micromanipulators model 2210-LS system level prober that combines a traditional wafer probe to the device exercising capabilities of an application board.   

In other news, Micromanipulator recently launched our e-commerce store that makes it easy for our customers to purchase many of our most popular accessories and consumables.  Please visit our website to learn more.

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 the company’s philosophy and what drives our success is an unfaltering commitment to customers’ satisfaction.  Please contact us to find out more about our exceptional line of probe stations and accessories.