Apparatus for and method of manufacturing a single crystal rod

摘要

An apparatus is provided for manufacturing a single crystal rod from a poly crystal feed rod including a closed chamber at which chamber the feed rod is located. The chamber has an annular energy supply arranged around the feed rod for melting off the one end of the rod for providing single crystals. Actuators are provided, for axial movement of the feed rod and for a rotating relative movement between the feed rod and the annular energy supply The apparatus further includes components for recording and regulating the distance between the surface of the feed rod and an annular inwardly radially facing reference face associated with the energy supply The resulting apparatus and method that enable use of irregular feed rods that assume other shapes than the optimal cylindrical shape and also enable use of curved cylindrical and elliptical rods with irregular surfaces.