Veeco Announces the New Wyko LT-2000 Laser Texture Disk Measurement System for Faster, More Reliable Process Control

Business Wire, Oct 10, 1997

PLAINVIEW, N.Y.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 10, 1997--Veeco Instruments Inc., a world leader in advanced surface measurement systems, announces the WYKO(R) LT-2000(tm) Laser Texture Measurement System. This non-contact instrument is an automated inspection system that improves process control in disk manufacturing by rapidly and accurately analyzing laser texture bumps on disks. The laser texture process is increasingly being used by disk manufacturers to meet the requirements for decreasing flyheights in the next generation of disk drives.

Built for manufacturing environments, the high-throughput WYKO LT-2000 can make four measurements per surface in less than 35 seconds. The system is completely automated, with user-defined one-button operation, robust autofocus, and unique vibration sensing for highly reliable data. Based on the proven design of the WYKO HD-2000, this gage-capable instrument automatically acquires, views, and stores individual bump data. Using local region analysis to remove the effects of disk waviness, the system provides full analysis of "volcano" and other common bump types.

Developed specifically for the WYKO LT-2000, the system's laser texture analysis software analyzes such parameters as peak, valley, rim height and diameter, and tangential/radial spacing of features as well as fully automated ID/OD zone measurements. Built-in flexibility allows data to be analyzed on a "per bump", "per measurement", or "per surface" basis. Running on a Pentium(R) Pro PC, the user-friendly Vision-32 software provides a fully multitasking Windows(R) NT(tm) environment.

Automatic data logging with pass/fail test criteria provides real-time go/no-go feedback for production environments. All results and graphics are exportable to other Windows applications for off-line analysis and statistical process control, and can be networked for shared analysis and remote control.

Veeco Process Metrology Group, located in Tuscon, Arizona, and Santa Barbara, California, is a wholly owned subsidiary of Veeco Instruments Inc. (NASDAQ: VECO). Headquartered in Plainview, NY, Veeco is a worldwide leader in etch and deposition Process Equipment for data storage, Process Metrology tools for the data storage, semiconductor and flat panel display industries. Manufacturing and engineering facilities are located New York, California and Arizona. Global sales and service offices are located throughout the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia-Pacific.

CONTACT: Veeco Instruments Inc., Plainview

Press Contact: Sharon Lippold

Phone: (520) 741-1044

Email: slippold@wyko.com