The Hacker Fab is a revolutionary open source DIY semiconductor fabrication lab in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University that was built and operated by students from departments across the engineering college.  This talk will describe how student ingenuity transformed a novel concept and an empty room into a functional low-cost semiconductor fab capable of producing working transistors in just a single semester. Now operating as a series of two courses, we will cover the full story of the Hacker Fab development, the open source concept, and ways to replicate this concept with topics including:

• Infrastructure needs for the fab 

• Course curriculum and student recruitment

• Development of DIY tools and processes for deposition, etch, lithography, and annealing

• Project examples of equipment including spin coaters, wafer steppers, sputtering, evaporation, ALD, and more

• Development of the open source platform

• Industry engagement

• Workforce development and outreach opportunities

Speakers

Lawrence T. Pileggi, Coraluppi Head and the Tanoto Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering

Elio Bourcart, Mechanical Engineer, Atomic Semi

Alexander Hakim, Mechanical Engineer, Atomic Semi

Matthew T. Moneck, Executive Director, Bertucci Nanotechnology Lab

Tathagata Srimani, Assitant Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering