fab24hr
Want to understand chips a little better? How the machines work, how chips are made, what the news is talking about.
Machines, taken apart
Plasma etch chamber Tap to open it, turn it around and look at every part. All 31 machines come apart.
A generic illustration made with AI help from public sources. It may contain mistakes, and it does not depict any company’s machine.
Articles
- Semiconductor Process Engineer Interview QuestionsWorking in a fab・
- What Is Fan-Out Packaging (FOWLP)? Fan-In vs Fan-OutPackaging and testing・
- How Long Does It Take to Build a Fab? Steps and CostChip news explained・
- What Is ESD? Why Chips Are Sensitive to StaticPackaging and testing・
- What Is MEMS? MEMS Sensors and Microphones ExplainedChip basics・
- Semiconductor Cycle: Why Chip Shortages Turn Into GlutsChip news explained・
- What Is a Power Semiconductor? Power MOSFET vs IGBTChip basics・
- What Is a TSV (Through-Silicon Via)? How Chips StackPackaging and testing・
- What Is a Chiplet? Why Split a Big Chip Into Small OnesPackaging and testing・
- What Is an Angstrom? The Chip "Angstrom Era" ExplainedChip basics・
- Semiconductor Fab Departments: Who Works in a FabWorking in a fab・
- What Is NPI in Semiconductors? New Product IntroductionWorking in a fab・
- What Is SMT? Surface Mount and Reflow SolderingPackaging and testing・
- How Are Chips Shipped? Tape and Reel, Dry Pack and MSLPackaging and testing・
- What Is Reliability Testing? HTOL and the Bathtub CurvePackaging and testing・
- IC Package Types: What Are BGA, QFN, SOP and DIP?Packaging and testing・
- What Is a Probe Card? How Wafer Probing WorksPackaging and testing・
- What Is FinFET and GAA? FinFET vs Gate-All-AroundChip basics・
- Lab to Fab: How Long From Chip Research to Production?Chip news explained・
- What Is the Memory Wall? Why Fast Chips Wait for DataChip basics・
- Immersion Lithography and Multiple Patterning ExplainedHow chips are made・
- What Is Backside Power Delivery (BSPDN)? ExplainedChip basics・
- What Is Tape-out? Chip Tapeout Meaning, Step by StepChip basics・
- What Is Chip Verification? Finding Bugs Before Tape-OutChip basics・
- What Is EDA? Electronic Design Automation ExplainedChip basics・
- What Is Semiconductor IP? Silicon IP Cores ExplainedChip basics・
- How Do Foundries Work With Customers? Order to DeliveryChip news explained・
- Semiconductor Supply Chain Explained: Who Does WhatChip basics・
- Why Semiconductor Manufacturing Needs a VacuumInside the fab・
- What Is MES in Semiconductor Manufacturing?Inside the fab・
- What Is Process Change Control in a Chip Fab? PCNsInside the fab・
- What Is Epitaxy? Epitaxial Growth and Epi WafersHow chips are made・
- What Is OPC? Optical Proximity Correction ExplainedHow chips are made・
- What Is a Photomask? How It's Made, Why It's ExpensiveHow chips are made・
- What Is Failure Analysis (FA)? Finding Why Chips FailInside the fab・
- What Is Root Cause Analysis? 8D, 5 Whys and FishboneInside the fab・
- What Is a Lot Hold? Release, Rework or Scrap in a FabInside the fab・
- Why Do Bigger Chips Have Lower Yield? Defect DensityInside the fab・
- What Is FDC in Semiconductor Fabs? Fault DetectionInside the fab・
- What Is APC in Semiconductors? Run-to-Run ControlInside the fab・
- Monitor Wafer vs Dummy Wafer, ExplainedInside the fab・
- What Is Wafer Defect Inspection? Particles & ScratchesInside the fab・
- What Is Plasma Etching? Why Chip Fabs Use PlasmaHow chips are made・
- What Is Overlay in Lithography? Why Layers Must AlignHow chips are made・
- What Is Photoresist? Positive vs Negative PhotoresistHow chips are made・
- What Are Logic Gates? AND, OR, NOT and NAND ExplainedChip basics・
- What Is CMOS? Why Chips Pair NMOS and PMOS SwitchesChip basics・
- What Is Doping in Semiconductors? N-Type vs P-TypeHow chips are made・
- What Is BEOL? Chip Interconnects and Copper DamasceneHow chips are made・
- How a Transistor Is Made: The CMOS Process FlowHow chips are made・
- Fabless vs IDM vs Foundry: What's the Difference?Chip news explained・
- Why Do Semiconductor Fabs Use So Much Electricity?Inside the fab・
- How Are Chips Designed? Chip Design Process to Tape-outChip basics・
- Analog vs Digital Chips: What Is an Analog Chip?Chip basics・
- Why Are Chips So Expensive? The Cost of Making a ChipChip basics・
- What Is Flip Chip? Flip Chip vs Wire Bond, ExplainedPackaging and testing・
- What Are Automotive-Grade Chips? How Car Chips DifferChip news explained・
- How Long Does It Take to Make a Chip? Fab Cycle TimeHow chips are made・
- What Is an AI Chip? AI Accelerator vs CPU, GPU and NPUChip news explained・
- What Is an SoC (System on a Chip)? SoC vs CPU ExplainedChip basics・
- What Is a Wide-Bandgap Semiconductor? SiC vs GaNChip news explained・
- What Is SiP (System in Package)? SiP vs SoC, ExplainedPackaging and testing・
- What Is a 12-Inch Wafer? 300mm vs 200mm Wafer SizesChip basics・
- What Gases Are Used in Chip Fabs? Bulk vs SpecialtyInside the fab・
- What Is a Hot Lot in a Fab? Why It Isn't Always FirstInside the fab・
- What Is PM (Preventive Maintenance) in a Chip Fab?Inside the fab・
- What Is a Fab? Semiconductor Fab vs Foundry vs FablessInside the fab・
- What Is Leakage Current? Why Chips Use Power When IdleChip basics・
- What Is WAT in Semiconductors? How to Read a Wafer MapHow chips are made・
- What Does a Customer Liaison Do at an OSAT?Working in a fab・
- What Is a Pilot Line? R&D Line vs Production FabWorking in a fab・
- What Does an R&D Process Integration Engineer Do?Working in a fab・
- What Does a Photomask Engineer Do in a Chip Fab?Working in a fab・
- What Is Production Control in a Wafer Fab? Due DatesWorking in a fab・
- What Does QA Do in a Chip Fab? Quality Assurance vs QCWorking in a fab・
- How Are Chips Made? Semiconductor Manufacturing StepsHow chips are made・
- What Is Wafer Cleaning? Why Wafers Are Washed So OftenHow chips are made・
- What Is Ion Implantation? Doping Silicon, ExplainedHow chips are made・
- What Is a Diffusion Furnace? Oxidation and AnnealingHow chips are made・
- What Is CMP? Chemical Mechanical Polishing, ExplainedHow chips are made・
- What Does an Equipment Engineer Do in a Chip Fab?Working in a fab・
- What Is a Wafer Start? The Day a Lot Enters the LineInside the fab・
- What Does MO Mean in a Semiconductor Fab? Mis-operationInside the fab・
- Is Semiconductor Fab Work Hard? Shifts, On-Call, HoursWorking in a fab・
- What Are SPC, OOC and OOS? Control Charts ExplainedInside the fab・
- Semiconductor Job Types: Design, Fab and Test RolesWorking in a fab・
- What Is a Recipe in Semiconductor Manufacturing?Inside the fab・
- Semiconductors 101: What They Are, What a Fab DoesChip basics・
- What Does OCAP Mean in a Chip Fab? Explained SimplyInside the fab・
- What Is Silicon Photonics? Co-Packaged Optics ExplainedChip news explained・
- Fab Technician vs Engineer: What's the Difference?Working in a fab・
- What Does a Semiconductor Facilities Engineer Do?Working in a fab・
- What Does Manufacturing Do in a Wafer Fab? DispatchingWorking in a fab・
- What Is Burn-In Testing? The Bathtub Curve, ExplainedPackaging and testing・
- What Is a FOUP? How OHTs Move Wafers Around a FabInside the fab・
- Semiconductor Metrology vs Inspection, ExplainedHow chips are made・
- VLSI Design vs Semiconductor Fab Jobs: The DifferenceWorking in a fab・
- Which Engineering Branch for Semiconductor Fab Jobs?Working in a fab・
- What Is OSAT? Semiconductor Assembly and Test ExplainedPackaging and testing・
- What Is Wire Bonding? Ball vs Wedge Bonding, ExplainedPackaging and testing・
- What Is Ultrapure Water? Why Chip Fabs Use So MuchInside the fab・
- What Is HBM? High Bandwidth Memory and Why AI Needs ItChip news explained・
- What Is EUV Lithography, and Why Is It So Hard?Chip news explained・
- What Is Moore's Law, and Is It Dead? Why It's SlowingChip basics・
- Logic vs Memory Chips: DRAM vs NAND Flash, ExplainedChip basics・
- What Is Etching? Dry vs Wet Etching in ChipmakingHow chips are made・
- What Is Thin Film Deposition? CVD, PVD, ALD ExplainedHow chips are made・
- What Is a Semiconductor Foundry? Fabless vs IDMChip news explained・
- What Are Mature Nodes? Why Legacy Chips Still MatterChip news explained・
- What Does a Process Integration Engineer (PIE) Do?Working in a fab・
- What Is a Computer Chip? Chip vs Wafer vs IC vs DieChip basics・
- What Is Photolithography? How Chip Patterns Get PrintedHow chips are made・
- How Are Chips Tested? Wafer Sort (CP) vs Final TestPackaging and testing・
- What Is Advanced Packaging? 2.5D, 3D and ChipletsChip news explained・
- Cleanroom Classification Explained: Class 100 vs ISO 5Inside the fab・
- What Does 2 nm Mean? What in a "2 nm" Chip Is 2 nm?Chip news explained・
- What Is a Semiconductor? Why Is It Called "Semi"?Chip basics・
- What Is a Transistor? Billions of Switches on a Phone ChipChip basics・
- What Is Chip Yield? Why 1% Matters So MuchChip news explained・
- What Is Chip Packaging? Why Chips Need a PackagePackaging and testing・
- The 7 Process Areas of a Chip Fab, ExplainedHow chips are made・
- Process Engineer vs Equipment Engineer in a Chip FabWorking in a fab・
- PE in a Chip Fab: Process or Product Engineer?Working in a fab・
- Why Are Silicon Wafers Round When Chips Are Square?Chip basics・
- What Is Q-time in a Chip Fab? Why Wafers Can't WaitInside the fab・
- What Do the Red, Yellow and Green Lights on Fab Tools Mean?Inside the fab・
- Why Is the Litho Area in a Chip Fab Yellow?How chips are made・
- What Is a Bunny Suit? Why Cleanroom Workers Wear OneInside the fab・
- Why Do Chip Fabs Run 24/7? Shifts and On-CallInside the fab・
Teaching resources
Ready for one class period: nothing to install, no student logins, and it runs on phones, tablets and computers.
- Lesson plans20-, 40- and 50-minute versions, plus discussion questions
- WorksheetPrint it as is: before, during and after playing
- MachinesA link for each of the 31 machines, so you can open one straight away in class
- Semiconductors 101: 12 unitsFor self-study or a class: illustrated notes, slides, machines and questions in every unit
The code behind this game is public and free for anyone to use. Want to make a “24 hours” for your own line of work? Take it and change it:
- A 3D workplace: people walk and find their own way, and the camera follows
- Dialogue, phone calls, next-step hints, mini-games
- A tool that translates into several languages at once
A day as an engineer in a chip factory
The game tells you the next step. Head for the person or tool with a "!" over it, or press the red button at the bottom of the screen.Walk: arrow keys, WASD or click the floor. Talk: walk close and press E.
Choose how to play
Main story
The life of a chip Beta
Follow a hearing-aid chip from the R&D line into someone's hands.
13 chapters · about 10 minutes each · stop anytime
Pick a role
A day in the fab
R&D line, production fab or test-and-assembly house: choose a role and work the shift that's on right now.
❤️ Support the next updateThreadsWish or reportAbout
The tools, lot numbers, figures, procedures and people are fictional and made up for the game. They do not represent any company's actual rules.