The microCELL™ MCS cell cutting system provides free choice of cutting layouts that range from half- to shingled cells without compromising throughput or yield

Chemnitz, Germany, October 5, 2021—3D-Micromac AG, the industry leader in laser micromachining and roll-to-roll laser systems for the semiconductor, photovoltaic (PV), medical device and electronics markets, today introduced an advanced laser cutting system for half- and shingled solar cells - the microCELL™ MCS. The new microCELL MCS advanced laser system has been designed to meet the PV market's demands for boosting module power output and service life by minimizing power losses and providing for an exceptionally high mechanical strength of cut cells. It enables the highest throughputs for cutting cell sizes up to M12/G12 into half-cells or shingled cells.

Heckert Solar GmbH, one of the largest and leading German manufacturers of high-performance PV modules, has purchased two microCELL MCS systems for its plants in Thuringia (LWD Solar GmbH) and Chemnitz.


The new microcell MCS laser cutting system by 3D-Micromac. Leveraging 3D-Micromac's thermal laser separation (TLS) technology, the new tool achieves throughputs of more than 6,000 wafers per hour (full-cells).
Cell cutting fueling recent advances in PV manufacturing
In recent years, cutting solar cells into half-cells has become a key strategy for PV manufacturing by enabling remarkable gains in power output and mechanical strength at the module level. This trend has been accompanied by the switch to larger full-cell formats and the related increase in module power ratings1. Cutting cells into half- and third-cells or even shingles compensates for the increased power loss associated with the higher cell currents from larger wafer areas - ensuring that cell cutting remains at the heart of PV manufacturing for the foreseeable future.

The microCELL MCS system takes advantage of 3D-Micromac's patented thermal laser separation (TLS) process for cell separation. The ablation-free technique guarantees an excellent edge quality. As a result, the separated cells have up to 30 percent higher mechanical strength compared to ablative laser processes and enable a lower power degradation over the solar module's life cycle. By significantly reducing edge recombination losses and setting the stage for cutting edge passivation, TLS has been shown to achieve a module power gain of at least 2W.


Comparison of half-cell cutting edges using two different approaches. At left, a laser-processed edge with subsequent breaking method. At right, the 3D-Micromac TLS method demonstrating exceptional edge quality.


Key benefits of the microCELL MCS include:
• One-pass contactless dicing process, which provides for a significantly higher mechanical stability than conventionally processed solar cells2
• Unsurpassed flexibility on number of cell cuts - in standard configuration, the laser system cuts half-cells. Depending on the number of laser sources, the system is able to cut up to sixth-cut cells without decreasing the throughput
• Superior productivity of more than 6,000 wafers per hour
• Outstanding upgradeability - easy integration of additional laser modules to increase the number of cell cuts
• Future proofed by accommodating wafer sizes up to M12/G12
• Suitable for solar cells with temperature-sensitive coatings or depositions such as heterojunction technology (HJT) cells

"The use of half- and shingled cells in PV modules will have an enormous impact on industry growth in the coming years. With our new microCELL MCS laser system, we provide a future-proof production solution to module manufacturers that perfectly fits into an intelligent and scalable cell production line. The system can be upgraded with additional lasers with minimal effort to enable a higher number of cuts per wafer without compromising on throughput," stated Uwe Wagner, CEO of 3D-Micromac.

3D-Micromac will showcase the microCELL MCS advanced laser system at Intersolar Europe Restart, being held this week from October 6-8 in Munich, Germany. Event attendees can visit
3D-Micromac at booth A5.338 in Hall A to learn more.

For more information on the microCELL laser systems, please visit:
https://3d-micromac.com/laser-micromachining/products/microcell/.

References
1 SolarPower Europe - Global Market Outlook for Solar Power, 2021 - 2025 / International Technology Roadmap for Photovoltaic (ITRPV), 2020
2 Felix Kaule, Fraunhofer CSP: "Mechanical Damage of Half-Cell Cutting Technologies in Solar Cells and Module Laminates" in AIP Conference Proceedings 1999


About 3D-Micromac
Founded in 2002, 3D-Micromac AG is the industry leader in laser micromachining, delivering powerful, user-friendly and leading-edge processes with superior production efficiency. We develop processes, machines and turnkey solutions at the highest technical and technological level. 3D-Micromac systems and services have been successfully implemented in various high-tech industries worldwide including photovoltaic, semiconductor, glass and display industries, micro diagnostics, and medical technology. For more information, visit the company's website at http://www.3d-micromac.com.