Creatz3D in Singapore has supplied 600 sets of printed alumina lift pins to a major semiconductor foundry, after the parts passed production qualification for CVD chambers. The parts were made on 3DCERAM SINTO ceramic machines, and the full cycle took six weeks. It is a concrete example of ceramic additive manufacturing moving from prototypes into qualified series supply.
Key facts
600 sets of alumina lift pins delivered to a global semiconductor foundry
Full cycle of printing, debinding, sintering and finishing: six weeks
Parts qualified for CVD chambers; made on 3DCERAM SINTO machines
Creatz3D and 3DCERAM have collaborated in Singapore since 2016
Context Lift pins are small ceramic posts that hold and position wafers inside process chambers; CVD, PVD and ALD are vacuum deposition processes used to coat wafers.
What was delivered and how fast?
Creatz3D produced 600 sets of alumina lift pins for a leading global semiconductor foundry. Each part has a pin of roughly 6.5 mm diameter and 40 mm height on a base of about 20 mm diameter and 4 mm height. Printing, debinding, sintering and finishing together took six weeks. According to the companies, this let the foundry keep qualified production running, shorten supply lead times and rely less on overseas sourcing.
Why alumina and why top-down SLA?
Lift pins work in hot, plasma and vacuum conditions, so they need stable dimensions, wear resistance and little particle shedding. Alumina was chosen for its strength, toughness, wear behaviour and electrical insulation. 3DCERAM SINTO attributes the result partly to its top-down stereolithography design, which it says avoids peeling forces, needs no supports and allows complex internal geometries and homogeneous properties after sintering. These are the vendor's claims.
How does this fit the wider ceramic AM market?
3DCERAM and Creatz3D have worked together in Singapore since 2016, and 3DCERAM SINTO pairs its machines with regional partners so parts can be qualified near the customer. Lithoz runs a similar partner network, its Ceramic 3D Factory, and reports 40% growth in ceramic material revenue. Sinto Advanced Ceramics has added aluminum nitride and silicon nitride, qualifying each material across the whole process chain before offering it.
What it means
For manufacturers considering ceramic AM, the notable point is the qualified series volume, not the printing itself: semiconductor customers decide on repeatability across hundreds of parts. The six-week cycle includes debinding and sintering, so planning must cover the whole chain. Regional partner models can help smaller European suppliers reach such customers, though lead-time, cost and performance claims here come from the companies and are not independently verified.
Frequently asked questions
What did Creatz3D deliver to the foundry?
It delivered 600 sets of printed alumina lift pins that had passed production qualification for CVD chambers. Each set combines a pin of about 6.5 mm diameter with a base of about 20 mm.
How long did production take?
The full cycle of printing, debinding, sintering and post-processing took six weeks, which the companies describe as weeks rather than months.
Which printing technology was used?
The parts were made on 3DCERAM SINTO ceramic machines, which use a top-down stereolithography architecture.