A wafer chuck includes alignment members that allows a semiconductor wafer to
be
properly aligned on the chuck without using a separate alignment stage. The alignment
members may be cams, for example, attached to arms of the wafer chuck. These members
may assume an alignment position when a robot arm places the wafer on the chuck.
In this position, they guide the wafer into a proper alignment position with respect
to the chuck. During rotation at a particular rotational speed, the alignment members
move away from the wafer to allow liquid etchant to flow over the entire edge region
of the wafer. At still higher rotational speeds, the wafer is clamped into position
to prevent it from flying off the chuck. A clamping cam or other device (such as
the alignment member itself) may provide the clamping.