STSetch2 Update

Hi all --

We ask again for your patience... ENI/MKS, the manufacturer of the RF
generator, is sending their local field service engineer out to us on
Monday to take a look at the generator communications problem. We'd
hoped for today, but he asked for a delay in order to confirm some
information. If he is unable to resolve the issue, Elmer has arranged
for STS to send their field service engineer out here on Tuesday. Elmer
has also meanwhile arranged for the purchase of a spare generator. If
the STS engineer is unable to resolve the problem with our existing,
newly rebuilt & calibrated generator, then he will install the new
spare. Our sincere apologies -- documentation and information about
this system, which is a prototype, is scarce. I'm sure it's small
consolation, but we've also had two inquiries in the past two weeks
about our system from two different groups (one university, one big
company) with STS etchers experiencing extended downtime. (That said,
we've also heard good things about STS systems -- though not our model
which had a very limited production run.)

We'd have to admit that this is the same plan in our update from last
Friday, but delayed -- however, faced with the prospect of $31K to
install a new generator, we wanted to give ENI/MKS a few more days.

So, we have a plan with two backups and hope to have the system
functional again by Wednesday. We will update again as things develop.

Thanks for your attention --

Team Etch