Professional
Custom Semiconductor Vise
Sematool Precision Manufacturing · Engineering Team · June 2025
A custom 316 stainless-steel vise designed in two configurations to secure prototype semiconductor chips of different sizes during testing.
Overview
Designed and delivered a custom semiconductor-testing vise in two size-specific configurations, progressing from customer requirements through engineering approval, CNC programming, and manufacturing.
My Role
Gathered the customer's dimensional, material, and physical requirements; developed and refined both vise configurations; produced manufacturing drawings; and coordinated design approval before CNC programming and production.
Project Overview
This project involved designing a custom vise to securely locate prototype semiconductor chips during testing. The customer required two configurations to accommodate different chip sizes, with both versions manufactured from 316 stainless steel. During the initial meeting, I worked with the customer to establish the critical dimensions, material requirements, operating constraints, and delivery schedule.
Two-Configuration Design
Based on the customer's requirements, I developed two size-specific vise configurations using a shared design approach. Each version was tailored to the dimensions of its corresponding semiconductor chip while maintaining the positioning and retention features required for testing. The design was refined across two iterations based on internal and customer feedback.
Material
316 stainless steel
Size-specific configurations
2
Design iterations
2
Engineering Review and Documentation
After completing the revisions, I presented both configurations for review by the engineering manager and customer. Once the designs were approved, I finalized the engineering drawings and released the components to the CNC programmer for toolpath development.
Manufacturing and Delivery
Following approval, both vise configurations were released for CNC programming and manufacturing. The completed components were delivered within the specified timeframe, and no post-delivery design issues or revision requests were reported by the customer.
Design Results
The completed design provided the customer with two dedicated workholding configurations for testing different semiconductor chip sizes. Both versions satisfied the specified material, dimensional, and physical requirements and progressed through approval, CNC programming, manufacturing, and delivery without delaying the project schedule.
Material
316 stainless steel
Configurations delivered
2
Reported post-delivery issues
0
Reflection
As my first professional design project, this vise gave me practical exposure to the complete engineering workflow in a professional manufacturing environment. Although the design was relatively straightforward, it taught me how to translate customer needs into manufacturable components, obtain formal design approval, and work within the controlled documentation and review practices of an ISO 9001 quality-management system.