Buying AMB substrate? Choose the wrong supplier and you’re in trouble in the field. This guide has 7 checks before you order. Check: in-house bonding, certifications, capacity, quality control, material options, pricing details, and facility readiness. Do this right. Don’t make costly errors later.
What You Should Check Before You Pick a Supplier
A datasheet provides you with the numbers. It will not give you an answer as to whether the supplier can maintain the same quality with batch 500 as they did with batch 1. Here are some questions to ask in its place.
Does the Supplier Bond on their own?
So, directly ask: is bonding done in-house or is it outsourced to another factory? Outsourced bonding = loss of control. Your supplier cannot guarantee temperature, atmosphere or alloy quality. That’s risky. If they don’t know the answer to this question, it’s a red flag.
Do They Offer Material Flexibility?
When you change your design, the supplier who supplies only one type of ceramic substrate will eventually say “no”. Find a partner that can provide AMB substrates, and flexible copper thickness (100-600 µm) and ceramic thickness (0.25-1.0 mm), thus avoiding engineers being constrained by a fixed catalog.
Do They Hold the Right Certifications?
For auto and industrial programs, certifications aren’t documents, they’re evidence that your supplier’s process is controlled. Request the following certificates (which can be checked at any time) at a minimum:
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Basic quality management, ISO 9001.
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Most automotive-qualified power module programs require IATF 16949.
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ISO 14001, environmental management, which is frequently a requirement of OEM buyers.
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The ISO 45001, health and safety, is checked as part of supplier audits.
Request a copy of the certificate and the scope of the certificate. A website logo does not mean anything specific. Inquire from your supplier, on paper: What certifications do the plant’s parts come from?
Can They Handle Your Production Volume?
A supplier that has impressed you with a 50 piece sample run, can still fail you at 5,000 pieces/month. Before you shortlist them, you need to have a good understanding of:
Ask about their monthly AMB and DBC production. Ask how much is already sold to other customers.
The lead time for a repeat order in comparison to a first-time order. If raw material is running low, what do you do with your lead time? Do you keep safety stock or do you buy just in time?
What is their quality control process like?
Inquire about the detection of defects prior to bonding. Even the best furnace will not save a defective raw ceramic from destroying the bond. Don’t accept only the final test report, request their incoming inspection records and in-process QC data.
What Drives the Price of an AMB Substrate?
AMB substrates are more expensive than DBC substrates. So you know where you can negotiate, here are the reasons why:
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Ceramic material: silicon nitride is more expensive than alumina or AlN, but is more resistant to heat and stress.
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Thicker copper and the titanium braze alloy, both increase the cost compared to standard DBC.
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Batch size, small or custom runs cost more per piece. Standard sizes come with a lower price tag.
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Tooling fees: new shapes have a one-off charge. Request suppliers to specify this on their own.
Don’t just look at the price when comparing quotes. A lower quote does not necessarily equate to a less expensive product, it can just mean that they are not using the thickest copper or they will not be certified.
Your Supplier Checklist Before You Send an RFQ
Before you add a supplier to your shortlist, you should be able to answer yes to all seven of these:
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Bonding is in-house, not with a subcontractor.
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They provide more than one ceramic (alumina, AlN, Si₃N₄)
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They have active ISO 9001 and IATF 16949 accreditation (if your program is automotive)
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They have a documented capacity well in excess of your forecast for the month.
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They have a documented, not simply described, incoming material inspection process.
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They will provide you with first article inspection reports and process data prior to agreeing to a production order.
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They clearly separate out the unit price, tooling, and any test charges in their quote.
The facility visit is recommended for any supplier that checks all seven boxes. Check cleanliness levels, equipment maintenance records, and storage conditions for raw ceramic and copper foil. Before anything else, one who hedges on the in-house bonding question deserves a second look.
Based on these criteria, here is a supplier that meets these requirements.
Sourcing AMB Substrates from GGS Ceramic
You can source AMB substrate from GGS Ceramic. They handle active metal brazing, DBC, and other options. All in-house. Full control. Materials are alumina, aluminum nitride and silicon nitride, and specifications copper thickness, ceramic size and layout are designed to your drawing and not restricted to a catalog. For full materials, visit the GGS Ceramic’s substrate capabilities page.
You’ll find GGS Ceramic’s factory certified to IATF 16949:2016 and ISO 9001:2015. Look on their company page to see proof. These are the two certifications that sourcing managers are searching for the most.
They have a factory area of 30,000 m². You get access to 50,000+ ceramic parts monthly. They’ve served over 20,000 customers in more than 120 countries. Typical Ordering Time: 10 to 25 days. Custom lead time is based on your specifications please check with their sales team.
Want to verify scope of certification, lead time or volume? Contact GGS Ceramic’s sales team. They will quote based on your drawing.
Common Questions About AMB Substrates
What is the supplier qualification process for AMB?
Plan for 4-8 weeks. This includes sample testing, certification review and first article inspection. Programs for automobiles might require more time because of PPAP requirements. Begin qualification early, prior to production deadline.
Can I sample AMB substrates before I order?
Yes. Typically, the suppliers provide 2 to 5 pieces of samples. Test thermal cycling, dimension and bond quality with these. Do not assume that if the supplier appears to be a good one on paper, that it is.
What is the consequence of my AMB supplier failing a certification audit?
Be sure to ask this before signing a contract. A reliable supplier will provide their proper corrective action plan and timeline. If they are unable to respond clearly, it’s a red flag. Build a backup supplier into your sourcing plan.
Should I use two different AMB suppliers for dual-source AMB?
Yes, for automotive or high volume programs. Single sourcing can be risky in case of a quality problem or capacity constraint from your supplier. Evaluate two suppliers as early as possible, even if you place an initial order with one of them.
How long should it take to get a first order for an AMB substrate?
A first order will take 8 to 12 weeks, longer than repeat orders. This involves tooling set-up, first article inspection and process validation. Include this in your project schedule up front.
What certifications should I ask an AMB substrate supplier’s factory for?
Request ISO 9001 as a minimum. If you are interested in automotive courses, also request IATF 16949. Both ISO 14001 and ISO 45001 are frequently demanded at supplier’s factory audits as well.
How to determine if a supplier is capable of meeting my production needs?
Request their documented monthly production, the percentage of that volume already sold to other customers, normal lead times and first order lead times and what they do if they are low on raw materials.