8486.40.00.10 - For the manufacture or repair of masks and reticles

This HTS classification, 8486.40.00.10, specifically covers machinery and apparatus designed for the sophisticated processes involved in the manufacture or repair of masks and reticles. These items are critical components in the photolithography process used to create integrated circuits and flat panel displays. The machinery within this category is characterized by its precision engineering, enabling the intricate etching, deposition, or inspection required to produce these high-tolerance patterns.

This category is distinguished from its siblings by its singular focus on mask and reticle production. Unlike sibling category 8486.40.00.20, which deals with machinery for assembling semiconductor devices or electronic integrated circuits, or 8486.40.00.30, which covers material handling equipment, this classification pertains to the fabrication of the templates (masks and reticles) themselves. The purpose and function of the machinery are therefore distinct: creating the patterns that will be transferred, rather than performing the assembly of the final electronic components or moving those components.

As a leaf node within the HTS structure, there are no further subcategories for this specific classification. The scope of 8486.40.00.10 is precisely defined by the machinery's application in the production or repair of masks and reticles, encompassing all apparatus dedicated to these functions. Therefore, classification within this code hinges on the machine's primary operational purpose and its integral role in the manufacturing chain of microelectronic devices.