The present invention relates to a honing tool having a tool body in lightweight construction, and at least two radially feedable hone strips, the hone strips being radially feedable via a rack-and-pinion gear, the rack-and-pinion gear comprising a central toothed shaft adapted and arranged to interact with racks associated to the respective hone strips to feed the hone strips, wherein the honing tool comprises a pneumatic measuring device for in-process diameter measurement of a diameter of an opening to be machined in a workpiece.

A substrate holding apparatus is provided, which includes a top ring main body to which an elastic film having a surface that can suck a substrate can be attached, a first line communicating with a first area of the plurality of areas, a second line communicating with a second area different from the first area of the plurality of areas, a pressure adjuster that can pressurize the first area by feeding fluid into the first area through the first line and can generate negative pressure in the second area through the second line, and a determiner that performs determination of whether or not the substrate is sucked to the elastic film based on a volume of the fluid fed into the first area or a measurement value corresponding to pressure in the first area.

A surface property measuring system capable of accurately measuring a surface property of a polishing pad without damaging the polishing pad and without reducing throughput of the entire polishing process is disclosed. The surface property measuring system includes: an optical measuring device configured to direct light to a polishing surface of a polishing pad when the polishing pad is rotating, and measure a surface property of the polishing pad based on reflected light from the polishing surface; a cover member disposed between the optical measuring device and the polishing pad; and a transparent-liquid supply line coupled to an inlet port provided in the cover member and configured to supply a transparent liquid onto the polishing pad through the inlet port. The cover member has a light transmissive portion on an optical path of the light and the reflected light.

A surface property measuring system capable of accurately measuring a surface property of a polishing pad without damaging the polishing pad and without reducing throughput of the entire polishing process is disclosed. The surface property measuring system includes: an optical measuring device configured to direct light to a polishing surface of a polishing pad when the polishing pad is rotating, and measure a surface property of the polishing pad based on reflected light from the polishing surface; a cover member disposed between the optical measuring device and the polishing pad; and a transparent-liquid supply line coupled to an inlet port provided in the cover member and configured to supply a transparent liquid onto the polishing pad through the inlet port. The cover member has a light transmissive portion on an optical path of the light and the reflected light.

A polishing-head system capable of precisely controlling a polishing rate for a substrate, such as a wafer, and more particularly a polishing rate at an edge portion is disclosed. The polishing-head system includes a polishing head, a head shaft, a head rotating mechanism, a multi-path rotary joint, a fluid supply line, and a pressure regulator, wherein the polishing head has a substrate pressing surface, a retainer ring, and pressure chambers arranged along a circumferential direction of the retainer ring, the head shaft has shaft flow-passages communicating with the pressure chambers, respectively, and the multi-path rotary joint is configured to sequentially provide a communication between the fluid supply line and the shall flow-passages each time the head shaft makes one revolution.

Embodiments of a system and method for polishing substrates are provided. In one embodiment, a polishing system is provided that includes a polishing module having a platen, and a platen temperature control system. The platen temperature control system includes a PID controller, a fluid controller, and a heat exchanger. The flow controller is configured to control an amount of fluid provided from the heat exchanger to a channels of the platen in response to instructions provided by the PID controller.

Embodiments of a system and method for polishing substrates are provided. In one embodiment, a polishing system is provided that includes a polishing module having a platen, and a platen temperature control system. The platen temperature control system includes a PID controller, a fluid controller, and a heat exchanger. The flow controller is configured to control an amount of fluid provided from the heat exchanger to a channels of the platen in response to instructions provided by the PID controller.

Accuracy of detection of a fly out of a substrate from a polishing head is improved. A substrate processing apparatus includes a polishing table 350 to which a polishing pad 352 for polishing the substrate is attachable, a polishing head 302 for holding and pressing the substrate against the polishing pad 352, a retainer member disposed surrounding the polishing head 302, a retainer member pressurization chamber disposed adjacent to the retainer member, an arm 360 for holding and turning the polishing head 302, and a slip out detector 910 for detecting a fly out of the substrate from the polishing head 302 based on a turning torque of the arm 360 or based on a flow rate of a fluid supplied to the retainer member pressurization chamber.

An attachment for a mobile handling device is configured for processing walls or ceilings. The attachment comprises a mounting unit that is arranged to be supported at a mounting interface of the handling device, a processing head that is arranged to be equipped with at least one tool for material-removing processing or smoothing processing, and a compensation arrangement that is arranged between the mounting unit and the processing head and that defines a longitudinal axis. The mounting unit provides at least two pivot positions for the attachment that are offset from one another. The processing head is movable relative to the mounting unit in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis. The compensation arrangement is configured to provide a defined contact pressure force for the processing head in a defined operating range along the longitudinal axis towards the surface to be processed.

An attachment for a mobile handling device is configured for processing walls or ceilings. The attachment comprises a mounting unit that is arranged to be supported at a mounting interface of the handling device, a processing head that is arranged to be equipped with at least one tool for material-removing processing or smoothing processing, and a compensation arrangement that is arranged between the mounting unit and the processing head and that defines a longitudinal axis. The mounting unit provides at least two pivot positions for the attachment that are offset from one another. The processing head is movable relative to the mounting unit in a longitudinal direction along the longitudinal axis. The compensation arrangement is configured to provide a defined contact pressure force for the processing head in a defined operating range along the longitudinal axis towards the surface to be processed.