Method for chemical mechanical polishing layer pretexturing

1. A method for pretexturing the polishing surface of a chemical mechanical polishing layer, comprising:

providing a chemical mechanical polishing layer having a polishing surface and an initial average thickness, T IA ;

providing a belt sanding machine, comprising:

a chemical mechanical polishing layer transport module, comprising: a transport belt; a transport feed roller, at least two transport feed roller bearings; at least one transport support roller, and, a transport belt driver; wherein the transport feed roller bearings facilitate the rotational movement of the transport feed roller about a transport feed roller axis of rotation, A trf ; wherein the transport belt is trained around the transport feed roller and the at least one transport support roller; and, wherein the transport belt driver is in mechanical communication with the transport belt to facilitate movement of the transport belt; and,

a calibrating sanding module, comprising: a calibrating sanding belt; a non-drive roller, at least two non-drive roller bearings; a drive roller; at least two drive roller bearings, wherein the drive roller bearings have a radial clearance; a drive roller biaser; a drive roller biasing bearing mounted on and coaxial with the drive roller, wherein the drive roller biaser engages the drive roller by exerting pressure against drive roller biasing bearing such that the radial clearance for the at least two drive roller bearings is disposed on the same side of the drive roller relative to the chemical mechanical polishing layer passing through the gap; a calibrating sanding belt driver, wherein the calibrating sanding belt driver is in mechanical communication with the drive roller to facilitate movement of the calibrating sanding belt; wherein the calibrating sanding belt is trained around the non-drive roller and the drive roller; wherein the at least two non-drive roller bearings facilitate the rotational movement of the non-drive roller about a non-drive roller axis of rotation, A ndr ; and, wherein the at least two drive roller bearings facilitate the rotational movement of the drive roller about a drive roller axis of rotation, A dr ;

wherein the drive roller axis of rotation, A dr is substantially parallel to the transport feed roller axis of rotation, A tfr ;

placing the chemical mechanical polishing layer on the transport belt;

feeding the chemical mechanical polishing layer through a gap between the transport belt and the calibrating sanding belt;

wherein the polishing surface comes into contact with the calibrating sanding belt;

wherein the at least two drive roller bearings are biased such that their radial clearance is disposed on the same side of the drive roller opposite the side of the drive roller that is closest to the chemical mechanical polishing layer as the chemical mechanical polishing layer passes through the gap;

wherein the gap is less than the initial average thickness, T IA , of the chemical mechanical polishing layer;

wherein the chemical mechanical polishing layer exhibits a final average thickness, T FA , after passing through the gap; and,

wherein the final average thickness, T FA , is less than the initial average thickness, T IA .

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the at least two drive roller bearings are radial ball bearings.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the calibrating sanding belt has an abrasive surface exhibiting a grit size of 25 to 300 μm.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the drive roller biasing bearing is a ball bearing.