180nm is still going plenty strong and the fabs get a constant stream of upgrades, but the lithography systems are officially EOL. ASML/Nikon/Canon don’t make them anymore except for the occasional (very expensive) custom order and the cost of repairing them is steadily increasing. If they don’t need the bigger node size, greenfield projects are better off with a smaller node but anyone with an existing design is going to keep using it.

It’s just a cost-curve thing - older nodes eventually hit the other end of the bathtub curve where keeping the fab running gets more and more expensive while newer nodes are still cheap.

That doesn't really match my experience. I could be totally wrong though because I don't get to look at the books.

ASML it still announcing DUV systems on their product page. I would think this would mean they would be very happy to sell you a new one. https://www.asml.com/en/products/duv-lithography-systems

And machine revitalization and refurbishment is an important selling point for this kind of capital equipment.

https://www.asml.com/en/news/stories/2023/revitalization-thr...

"Did you know that approximately 95% of ASML lithography systems sold in the past 30 years are still active in the field? As of the end of 2022, more than 5,000 of our machines are hard at work in chipmaking fabs globally – a feat made possible by the fact that our systems can be repaired, refurbished and repurposed throughout their life cycles. It’s all part of our commitment to supporting a circular economy in the semiconductor industry that reduces waste, adds value and lessens environmental impact."

"Currently there’s a growing market in the semiconductor industry for mature DUV technology solutions. Refurbished systems provide cost-effective options for chipmakers looking to scale up in that area."

Those TwinScan systems are much newer than the PAS5500 series I'm familiar with (the one they're really bragging about in that article with the 95% stat). ASML doesn't sell them anymore, they only offer the refurbishment program: https://www.asml.com/en/products/refurbished-systems

Sooner rather than later it'll be cheaper to buy a TwinScan system than to fix a PAS5500/750, but at that point why would the fab keep making 180nm chips when they can make more money making 45nm chips with the same system? Last I checked, some critical parts already had 1+ year lead times because they had to be made to order so fabs have to keep their own stock.

Edit: Sorry I misused "EOL" in a previous comment. They're still being supported my ASML, but you can't buy a new machine so expanding a fab means upgrading the node.

I suppose it depends what they're printing and why. There are plenty of structures that will want to be 180nm and larger for many years to come.

But I definitely agree that pretty soon it will make no sense to artificially limit printing resolution and, for high volume manufacturing, buying a new machine that can't do better than 180nm will make little sense.

TSMC is phasing out 180nm officially already for 2 years due to demand on more advanced nodes like 65nm or 40nm. All the BCD stuff is implemented on those processes too. They are moving the equipment used in 180nm to these newer nodes. I think they don't want anything laeger than 110nm.