Ball Shear/Solder Ball Shear

The solder ball shear test is one of the most common tests undertaken on a bondtester. Solder balls are sheared individually with a tool aligned at an accurate position above the device’s surface and the force measured throughout the test. Shear testing is in accordance with:

• JEDEC JESD22-B116 - Au Ball Shear
• JEDEC JESD22-B117 – Solder Ball Shear
• ASTM F1269 - Ball Bond Shear

The position of shear tool during testing is critical for accurate and repeatable test results. Nordson DAGE shear tools identify the device surface using an automatic touchdown feature and high precision positioning provides shear height accuracies of +/- 0.25 microns. Touchdown is achieved using a patented load cartridge clamping system and the exceptional position accuracy ensures that every ball bond is sheared at the same height relative to the surface that it is bonded on.

The shear tool is typically a flat, chisel shape but as an alternative, the cavity shear tool can be used. The cavity distributes the load over a larger area and reduces ball deformation. 

The precision alignment of the shear tool to the bond is achieved using optics and joystick control of an XY stage. For smaller samples it is possible to add an optional borescope imaging system (similar to an endoscope) and the sample being tested can be displayed on an LCD monitor enabling the operator to easily align the shear tool to the ball bond and more accurately assign a failure mode grade.

Nordson DAGE bondtesters provide:

• System accuracy up to +/- 0.1% of selected load range
• Shear height accuracy up to +/- 0.25µm
• A range of optical systems for alignment, failure mode analysis and live recording.