Applied HCT Diamond Squarer

The Applied HCT Diamond Squarer features fixed-abrasive diamond wire technology and can cut the cost of squaring silicon ingots by up to 30%. The new system cuts 2.8x faster than the conventional PWS squarer, resulting in 2.5x higher throughput for the same footprint and production capacity. At the same time, a 30% drop in cost of ownership (COO) comes from reducing operational, maintenance and repair costs by half, and a 50% decrease in energy consumption per brick. Eliminating slurry from the cutting process results in cleaner, easier production, with no need for SiC/PEG management and disposal.

PWS engineers have thoroughly evaluated the mechanics of diamond wire technology, resulting in a complete re-design of the Diamond Squarer system’s wire management and cutting head components to maximize wire lifetime. The coolant circuit was re-engineered to manage the coolant’s unique physical properties, and the system’s operating software was adapted for the specific cutting conditions of diamond wire. The compelling benefits of diamond wire technology can also be easily extended to existing PWS squarer systems through a cost-effective upgrade kit.