THE CMS SILICON TRACKER AUTOMATED MODULE ASSEMBLY
In December 1999 the CMS Tracker Collaboration decided to make its tracking system entirely based on silicon detectors1. The new tracker layout requires the assembly of about 17000 silicon strip detector modules, each one composed of silicon sensors and readout hybrid glued onto a carbon fibre frame. To guarantee the assembly of such a large quantity of modules with high quality but reduced manpower, an automated system has been developed at CERN. The system setup is based on a robotic machine, Aerotech AGS 10000 Cartesian Gantry Positioning System, equipped with high-precision positioning motors. The design of such automated silicon module assembly system is described and the performance in terms of positioning precision and assembly rate is shown.
