Sintering film frames and related methods

1 . A sintering film frame comprising:

a frame comprising an outer perimeter and an inner perimeter, the inner perimeter defining an opening through the frame;

a position detection opening through the frame;

at least two alignment holes through the frame; and

a frame identifier on a side of the frame.

2 . The frame of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the outer perimeter is one of elliptical, circular, a rounded rectangle, or a rounded square.

3 . The frame of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the outer perimeter is one of rectangular, square, or a quadrilateral.

4 . The frame of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the inner perimeter is one of elliptical, circular, a rounded rectangle, or a rounded square.

5 . The frame of claim 1 , wherein a shape of the inner perimeter is one of rectangular, square, or a quadrilateral.

6 . The frame of claim 1 , wherein the frame identifier is one of a barcode, a two dimensional barcode, or a set of characters.

7 . The frame of claim 1 , wherein the sintering film frame includes only two alignment holes in opposing corners of the sintering film frame.

8 . A method of preparing sintering film, the method comprising:

coupling a release film to a plurality of sintering films so each of the plurality of sintering films is arranged in a spaced apart relationship from each other sintering film of the plurality of sintering films on the release film;

coupling a plurality of sintering film frames to the release film, each of the plurality of sintering film frames coupled around each of the plurality of sintering films;

applying pressure between the plurality of the sintering film frames and the release film;

cutting the release film around each of the plurality of sintering film frames to singulate the plurality of sintering film frames; and

packing the plurality of sintering film frames into a frame transport container.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

casting a master sintering film; and

cutting the master sintering film into the plurality of sintering films.

10 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising:

visually inspecting the plurality of sintering films after cutting the release film prior to packing the plurality of sintering film frames; and

recording one of an order, an identity, or both an order and an identity of each of the sintering film frames using a frame identifier of each of the sintering film frames while packing the plurality of sintering film frames into the frame transport container.

11 . The method of claim 8 , wherein coupling the release film to the plurality of sintering films further comprises one of:

screen printing sintering paste onto the release film to form the plurality of sintering films;

jetting sintering paste onto the release film to form the plurality of sintering films; or

applying sintering paste across the release film and forming the plurality of sintering films using an inverted mold.

12 . The method of claim 8 wherein applying pressure between the plurality of sintering film frames and the release film further comprises heating the plurality of sintering film frames.

13 . A method of using a sintering film, the method comprising:

unloading a plurality of sintering film frames from a frame transport container, each of the plurality of sintering film frames comprising a sintering film supported by a release film in an opening of each sintering film frame;

automatically identifying each of the plurality of sintering film frames using a frame identifier on a side of each sintering film frames; and

automatically loading each of the plurality of sintering film frames onto a sintering tray station.

14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein unloading the plurality of sintering film frames from the frame transport container occurs automatically.

15 . The method of claim 13 , wherein automatically loading each of the plurality of sintering film frames further comprises sliding each sintering film frame onto the sintering tray station.

16 . The method of claim 13 , wherein automatically loading each of the plurality of sintering film frames further comprises picking and placing each sintering film frame onto the sintering tray station.

17 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the plurality of sintering film frames comprise one of silver, copper, silver alloys, copper alloys, or any combination thereof.

18 . The method of claim 13 , further comprising laminating and transferring a portion of the sintering film to a die.

19 . The method of claim 18 , further comprising bonding the die to a substrate at the portion of the sintering film.

20 . The method of claim 19 , further comprising pressure sintering the die to the substrate using the portion of the sintering film.