We Build
Our Own
Fab Tools.
Maskless lithography writers, thermal evaporators, plasma etchers — all student-built from scratch. We make chip fabrication accessible, one DIY machine at a time.
Build the Fab, Not Just the Chip
We are a HackerFab affiliate at TU Munich — a student group that builds semiconductor fabrication equipment from scratch and uses it to actually process wafers. No cleanroom required.
Why Now
60% of global chips, 90% of advanced nodes produced on one island — a single geopolitical shock could halt the entire industry.
Europe wants to raise its global chip market share from 7% to 20% by 2030. €43B committed. €638M earmarked for Germany alone.
The semiconductor industry needs 65,000 more engineers across Europe — but universities have no hands-on fabrication training.
Yet universities teach chip design in simulation only. Nobody gives students access to actual fab equipment. We think that's wrong — and we're fixing it. Think of us as the “3D printer moment” for silicon: a low-cost, open-source fab in every engineering faculty.
Lithography
We build maskless UV lithography writers using DMD spatial light modulators, achieving ~2 µm feature sizes on photoresist-coated wafers.
Thin Film Deposition
DIY thermal evaporators and sputtering systems for depositing metals (Al, Au, Cr) and dielectrics. Vacuum down to 10⁻⁶ mbar.
Etching & Processing
Wet bench for HF/KOH etching and spin coating, plus a DIY RIE plasma etcher for anisotropic silicon patterning.
Characterisation
Optical profilometry, four-point probe sheet resistance, SEM access via university partners, and custom electrical test benches.
Contributing to the HackerFab Network
HackerFab is a global movement to democratize semiconductor fabrication. We contribute our machine designs, firmware, and process recipes openly — so anyone can replicate our tools and build their own micro-fab lab.
The Machines
Every tool is student-designed, student-built. Full schematics, firmware, and build logs on GitHub.
LithoWriter v2
Maskless UV Lithography System
A student-built maskless lithography system based on a 405nm UV LED, Texas Instruments DLP2000 DMD chip, and a 20× objective. Controlled via Python + Raspberry Pi. Achieves ~2 µm minimum feature size on S1813 photoresist.
ThermoEvap-1
DIY Thermal Evaporator
A benchtop thermal evaporation system built from a repurposed diffusion pump and custom tungsten boat heater. Reaches 10⁻⁵ mbar for clean Al and Cr deposition on patterned wafers.
MicroRIE
Reactive Ion Etcher (DIY)
A compact RF plasma etcher for anisotropic silicon and SiO₂ etching. Uses a 13.56 MHz RF generator, matching network, and SF₆/O₂ chemistry. Targeting vertical etch profiles for MEMS structures.
Our 2026 Plan
Quarterly milestones, documented publicly. We publish everything — including failures.
Milestones
Kick-off
Workspace at TU Munich confirmed. Team founded. Ordering first components for Litho Stepper V2.1.
Litho Stepper V2.1
Build and characterise the V2.1 stepper: 2 µm resolution, 5 µm alignment accuracy via interferometry, 10×10 mm write field. Grow team to 8 people. Document every step — BOM, SOP, failures included.
Spin Coater + Probe Station
DIY spin coater for photoresist application and a probe station for electrical characterisation of fabricated structures.
Etching Tool
Reactive ion etcher (RIE) or wet bench for silicon and oxide etching — completing the full NMOS transistor fabrication flow.
Fab Process Flow
Lab Equipment
Build the Future of
DIY Chip Fabrication
We're two founders looking for passionate engineers who want to get their hands dirty — literally. No experience in lithography needed. Just curiosity, drive, and a love of making things.
Mechanical Engineer
Design and build the physical systems — stages, frames, vacuum chambers. CAD + hands-on fabrication.
Electrical / Firmware
Motor control, sensor readout, custom PCBs. Bridge between hardware and the control software.
Process Engineer
Develop and document the photolithography process — spin coating, exposure doses, wet chemistry.
Software / CV
Pattern generation, image alignment, machine control software and the lithography exposure engine.
What you get
We're small, focused, and move fast. Every person matters.
- Access to real fabrication equipment
- Hands-on work from day one — no busywork
- Learn photolithography, vacuum tech, and process engineering
- Open-source everything you build
- Contribute to the global HackerFab network
- Work alongside two highly motivated founders
Ready to build
your own fab?
Drop us a message — tell us who you are, what you've built before, and what excites you about semiconductor fabrication.
No formal application — just send an email.
Ready to Build Your Own Fab?
Want to join the team, replicate one of our machines, or collaborate on process development? All builds are fully open — reach out or just clone the repo and start building.