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A tool and method for assessing whether a disk carrier, and especially a carrier for holding semiconductor disks, is properly dimensioned. The tool has a body that includes a socket in which a portion of the disk carrier will seat fully if the disk carrier is properly dimensioned. Alignment structur

A tool and method for assessing whether a disk carrier, and especially a carrier for holding semiconductor disks, is properly dimensioned. The tool has a body that includes a socket in which a portion of the disk carrier will seat fully if the disk carrier is properly dimensioned. Alignment structures may be provided in the socket to align with features of the carrier to assist in determining whether the disk carrier is properly dimensioned. The socket may include two spaced apart cavities that correspond with end portions of walls of the disk carrier.

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I claim: 1. An apparatus for use with a disk carrier provided with spaced-apart first and second side walls with respective first and second end portions spaced apart by a distance and defining an opening and having respective slots for receiving and stacking a plurality of semiconductor wafers wit

I claim: 1. An apparatus for use with a disk carrier provided with spaced-apart first and second side walls with respective first and second end portions spaced apart by a distance and defining an opening and having respective slots for receiving and stacking a plurality of semiconductor wafers within the disk carrier during a semiconductor manufacturing process, the apparatus comprising a body having a first structure for forming a first cavity adapted to confine the first end portion of the disk carrier on the body and having a second structure for forming a second cavity adapted to confine the second end portion of the carrier on the body, the first and second cavities being spaced apart a distance equal to the distance between the first and second end portions of the carrier whereby the carrier is properly dimensioned when the first and second end portions of the carrier fully seat within the first and second cavities of the body. 2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body is provided with first and second protrusions extending respectively into the first and second cavities for registering with one of the slots of the respective first and second side walls of the disk carrier so as to align the disk carrier with respect to the body. 3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the body is provided with additional first and second protrusions extending respectively into the first and second cavities for registering with another of the slots of the respective first and second side walls of the disk carrier. 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the body includes a base and wherein each of the first and second structures includes first and second spaced-apart side walls extending upwardly from the base for forming the respective first and second cavities. 5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the body further includes a third side wall for forming a portion of both the first and second cavities. 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the body further includes a fourth side wall spaced apart from and facing the third side wall for forming a portion of both the first and second cavities. 7. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the each of the first and second structures includes a pad mounted on the base within the respective first and second cavities and providing a surface on which the respective end portions can seat. 8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein at least one of said first and second structures is provided with an aperture for mating engagement with a protrusion on the corresponding first or second end portion. 9. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an alignment protrusion within one of said first and second cavities for mating engagement with an aperture in the corresponding end portion. 10. An apparatus for determining whether a size and shape of a portion of a disk carrier used in a semiconductor manufacturing process is properly dimensioned, the apparatus comprising a body provided with a socket having a reciprocal size and shape adapted to receive the portion of the disk carrier such that if the portion is properly dimensioned the portion seats fully within the socket and if the portion is not properly dimensioned the portion will not seat fully into the socket, the body being provided with a pair of protrusions extending into the socket for registering with a slot on the disk carrier so as to align the disk carrier with respect to the body. 11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the body comprises a base having a flat surface, and walls that extend generally perpendicularly from the flat surface for forming the socket. 12. The apparatus of claim 11 wherein the walls include rails mounted on the flat surface and having side surfaces. 13. An apparatus for determining whether a size and shape of a portion of a disk carrier used in a semiconductor manufacturing process is properly dimensioned, the apparatus comprising a body provided with a socket having a reciprocal size and shape adapted to receive the portion of the disk carrier such that if the portion is properly dimensioned the portion seats fully within the socket and if the portion is not properly dimensioned the portion will not seat fully into the socket, the body including a base provided with a flat surface and the socket including a first pocket portion bounded by facing side surfaces of a first pair of spaced-apart rails mounted to the flat surface and a second pocket portion spaced-apart from the first pocket portion and bounded by facing side surfaces of a second pair of spaced-apart rails mounted to the flat surface. 14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the first and second pocket portions have respective widths, further comprising a third pair of spaced-apart rails mounted to the top surface, the third pair of rails including facing surfaces that span the widths of the first and second pocket portions. 15. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising a first seating pad mounted on the top surface within the first pocket portion and a second seating pad mounted on the top surface within the second pocket portion; the seating pads providing surfaces on which the portion will rest when the portion seats fully within the socket. 16. A method of assessing a portion of a disk carrier that includes first and second side walls with respective first and second end portions, comprising: providing an apparatus having first and second cavities of a desired size and shape to receive the first and second end portions of the disk carrier; attempting to insert the first end portion of the disk carrier in the first cavity and thereafter attempting to insert the second end portion of the disk carrier in the second cavity; and identifying the disk carrier as a good disk carrier if the first end portion of the disk carrier fully seats in the first cavity and the second end portion of the disk carrier fully seats in the second cavity. 17. The method of claim 16 wherein the attempting step includes placing the first end portion in the first cavity and dropping the second end portion towards the second cavity and wherein the identifying step includes identifying the disk carrier as a good disk carrier if the second end portion falls fully into the second cavity. 18. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first and second end portions includes a protrusion and wherein the apparatus is provided with an aperture within at least one the first and second cavities, and wherein the method further comprises attempting to place the protrusion in mated engagement with the aperture. 19. The method of claim 16 wherein at least one of the first and second end portions includes a passage and wherein the apparatus includes an alignment member extending into at least one of the first and second cavities, and wherein the method further comprises attempting to place the passage in mated engagement with the alignment member. 20. The method of claim 16 for use with a disk carrier having a first disk retaining slot provided with opposite ends, wherein the apparatus is provided with a pair of first and second alignment protrusions extending into the first and second cavities for engaging the opposite ends of the first disk retaining slot. 21. The method of claim 20 for use with a disk carrier having a second disk retaining slot provided with opposite ends and a third disk retaining slot provided with opposite ends, wherein the apparatus includes a second pair of first and second alignment protrusions extending into the first and second cavities for engaging the opposite ends of the second disk retaining slot and a third pair of first and second alignment protrusions extending into the first and second cavities for engaging the opposite ends of the third disk retaining slot.