Wafer.space – $7k USD for 1k custom chips

Silicon Manufacturing Made Simple

Thanks to open PDKs, advancing open‑source EDA, and programs like TinyTapeout, it’s never been easier to design a chip. With wafer.space, you can easily turn a design into real, working chips. We provide pooled fabrication with clear specs, an automated submission system, and a shipment of real silicon you can hold, probe, and ship to other people.

In this first production run, known as GF180MCU Run 1, we are working with GlobalFoundries’ 180 nm mixed-signal process to deliver dies in March 2026.

Remember PCBs before OSH Park?

Orders were painful: opaque quotes, setup fees, big MOQs, long waits, and DIY panelization. Then pooling services like OSH Park fixed it with predictable pricing, frequent runs, and no‑nonsense logistics. wafer.space brings that shift to silicon.

Features & Specifications

Through this campaign, you can purchase one or more slots in wafer.space’s first production run at GlobalFoundries. Each slot consists of a 3.88 mm × 5.07 mm (19.67 mm²) fixed die area, replicated 1,000 times. You can choose to receive bare dies (in Gel-Paks) or chip-on-board dies (i.e., dies wire-bonded to small PCBs). For those needing to perform on-wafer probing, or who want a unique memento, full wafers are also available. (A full wafer will include other designs from this run in addition to your design.)

Foundry & Node

• GlobalFoundries GF180MCU open‑source PDK
• Mature, mainstream 180 nm mixed‑signal process

Device & Passives

• Metals: 5 layers
• MIM capacitor: Type‑B (~2.0 fF/µm²)
• Resistors: poly and high‑res poly (HRES)
• MOS options: standard‑Vt core devices and I/O devices per PDK

Design Envelope

• Area: 19.67 mm² (3.88 mm × 5.07 mm)
• Top metal: available for pads, inductors, shielding, etc.
• I/O: bring your own pad ring and ESD; choose your pad pitch/Count per your package plan

Packaging

• Default: bare dies
• Optional: chip-on-board
• There are no QFN or other packing options available at this time
• Full wafers available

Included

• Silicon fabrication
• Dicing
• Chip-on-board packaging (optional)
• Shipment of finished dies or COBs

Not Included

• Design support
• Packaging (other than chip-on-board option)
• Test services
• IP blocks

Chips can be delivered either as bare dies in a Gel-Pak, or chip-on-board.

How It Works

1. Reserve a slot during the campaign.
2. Design & verify using the open GF180MCU PDK and your preferred flow (e.g., LibreLane/OpenROAD, proprietary, or mixed).
3. Run sign‑off (DRC/LVS/ERC/antenna) and follow pad/ESD guidelines.
4. Submit tape‑in bundle by 3rd December 2025.
5. Fabrication in the pooled MPW.
6. Dicing & logistics.
7. Delivery of your bare dies (and packaged parts if selected).

Schedule

FAQ

Do I have to open‑source my design?

No. The PDK is open; your design can be open or closed.

Can you help me with a pad ring?

No, but the community has created example pad‑rings and reviews of common pitfalls.

How many I/O pads can I use?

Depends on your pad pitch and die edge budget. Many designs fit 40–120 bonds comfortably in our 3.88 mm × 5.07 mm footprint.

Can I put multiple test chips or multiple macros in one slot?

Yes. You own the full 19.67 mm².

Where will my chips be made?

Fabricated on GF180MCU; logistics and dicing via qualified partners. Final shipping from Singapore or our fulfillment partner.

Support & Documentation

• Documentation
• Discord
• Element