ChipShover is an XYZ table & driver, with handy Python interface. It's designed for close analysis of ICs using tools like Electromagnetic Fault Injection (EMFI), EM Probes for side-channel, and more. In both specifications and cost it falls somewhere between between 3D printers & microscope stages.
ChipShover consists of the following main parts:
- Physical XYZ Stage (based on stepper motors)
- Interposers to mount tools onto the stage
- Controller for XYZ stage (based on open-source Marlin firmware)
- Python interface on computer
The physical XYZ stage is designed for two major variants, however you can easily customize it based on tables and parts you have on-hand. These variants are presented to simplify your general choice of options. They are currently called the medium-resolution stage (step size of 156.25 nm, backlash/general error around 3um), and a low-resolution stage (step size of 781.25 nm, bkaclash/general error around 50-100 um).
The medium-resolution stage is composed of a custom frame and motorized microscope stages. The frame is made entirely of solid machined aluminum.
For easiest setup and best results. This stage is available as part of a Kit from NewAE that also includes our controller, power supply, and helpful accesories. We call it the ChipShover PS1 (Positining system 1).
The low-resolution stage uses a CNC frame fairly widely available on AliExpress and similar. With this version you must buy the stage yourself - the size and lowish cost ($500) of the stage makes it not worth carrying for NewAE! The cost is significantly lower, with more hassle in the purchasing process and somewhat lower resolution and specifications on the resulting table.
The XYZ stage is designed to fit a variety of tools using a 50x50mm bolt pattern. Currently, this has the following interposers:
- ChipSHOUTER® holder.
- Pen-Style EM probe holder.
The ChipSHOUTER mounting hardware is included in the PS1 kit, otherwise these interposers can be 3D printed or machined from files in the repo.
The controller is based on 3D printer controllers which have extensive community resources behind their hardware and firmware. The ChipShover controller is specifically based on the Arduino DUE, which uses a Microchip SAM3X (we use the similar SAM3U in many of our products already which was our reasoning).
The firmware is open-source and is a build of Marlin2 with a custom board type. The board is designed to be the ChipShover-One ($1300 for enclosed & tested unit, lower-cost version planned around ~$350). Other boards such as the Archim2 are possible with some limitations (approx $180 for board + some cables needed).
The ChipShover-One is our own stepper controller. While there are hundreds of already existing controllers out there, we figured why not make it interesting with our own take? Several feature relevant to the ChipShover usage that are not widely available in existing 3D printer driver boards were specifically added:
- 3 endstop inputs per axis (2 endstops, 1 higher-resolution home).
- Swappable driver boards to work with different tables.
- Easy user API over USB (Ethernet optional).
- Higher drive current (~2.4A).
- Extension connectors for each axis (currently RS485 + I2C + single GPIO used for "stop" input).
- Physical E-Stop button that disconnects power to motors.
- User interface including colour LCD.
As there are hundreds of low-cost open-source stepper controllers out there, the ChipShover-One hardware is not currently released as full OSHW. Schematics and other information is available for your use already. As we finish releasing this it's likely ChipShover-One will become more open.
The Archim2 board is an open-source hardware controller board. It is sold by UltiMachine and can be used to make a board that is compatible with the ChipShover Python API.
The primary limitation of the Archim2 is a lower default resolution (~1um) due to the lower drive current, and only being able to use the mechanical endstops for homing. In practice this solution with an Archim2 still has many advantages compared to an off the shelf 3D printer. See more details in the Archim2 setup folder.
A Python interface simplifies use from existing Jupyter notebooks and similar.
Here is an example usage to sweep an IC surface from (10.0, 10.0) to (12.5, 12.5) in 0.05mm steps. Also plunge the Z-axis down to touch a probe to the surface at each location (useful when probe cannot be dragged across surface safely).
from chipshover import ChipShover
shv = ChipShover('com3')
shv.home()
for x,y in shv.sweep_x_y(10, 12.5, 10, 12.5, step=0.05, z_plunge=1.5):
print("At %f, %f"%(x,y))
ChipSHOUTER and ChipShover are registered trademarks of NewAE Technology Inc.