Systems and methods for producing seed bricks

1. A method of producing rectangular seed bricks for use in semiconductor or solar manufacturing, the method comprising:

connecting an alignment layer to a top surface of a template, the template including a grid of horizontal and vertical slots;

drawing alignment lines on the alignment layer to demarcate a plurality of nodes;

connecting cylindrical rods to the alignment layer such that a center of each rod is aligned with a corresponding node; and

slicing through the rods and the alignment layer with a wire web to produce the rectangular seed bricks.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein drawing alignment lines comprises:

drawing horizontal and vertical lines that align with the horizontal and vertical slots in the template; and

drawing diagonal lines, wherein each node is an intersection of two of the diagonal lines.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein slicing through the rods comprises slicing with a wire web that includes horizontal and vertical cutting wires that correspond to the horizontal and vertical slots in the template.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the alignment layer is made of foam.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting an alignment layer to a top surface of a template comprises connecting the alignment layer to the top surface of the template using a double-sided adhesive film.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting cylindrical rods to the alignment layer comprises connecting the rods to the alignment layer using a double-sided adhesive film.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein connecting cylindrical rods to the alignment layer comprises connecting cylindrical rods each having a diameter greater than 220 millimeters (mm).

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein slicing through the rods and the alignment layer with a wire web produces rectangular bricks each having a cross-section of 156 millimeters (mm) by 156 mm.

9. An apparatus for producing rectangular seed bricks for use in semiconductor or solar manufacturing, the apparatus comprising:

a template including a top surface and a grid of horizontal and vertical slots;

an alignment layer connected to the top surface of the template, wherein the alignment layer includes alignment lines demarcating a plurality of nodes;

cylindrical rods made of a semiconductor material and connected to the alignment layer, wherein a center of each rod is aligned with a corresponding node; and

a wire web configured to slice through the rods and the alignment layer to produce the rectangular seed bricks.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the alignment lines comprise:

horizontal and vertical lines that align with the horizontal and vertical slots in the template; and

diagonal lines, wherein each node is an intersection of two of the diagonal lines.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the wire web comprises horizontal and vertical cutting wires that correspond to the horizontal and vertical slots in the template.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the alignment layer is made of foam.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , further comprising a double-sided adhesive film connecting the alignment layer to the top surface of the template.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each of the rods is connected to the alignment layer using a circular piece of double-sided adhesive film.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein each of the rods has a diameter greater than 220 millimeters (mm).

16. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the wire web is configured to produce rectangular bricks each having a cross-section of 156 millimeters (mm) by 156 mm.

17. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the template has six vertical slots and six horizontal slots.

18. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the template has nine vertical slots and nine horizontal slots.