Step ladder with component rack system for fabrication facility

A ladder assembly, comprising:

• a mounting plate that connects to a side surface of a module that handles, transfers, stores, or processes substrates in a fabrication facility;
• a step ladder, including,
• a ladder frame having an arm that connects to the mounting plate at a first joint, wherein the step ladder rotates about the first joint between a lowered position and a raised position, the lowered positioned defined by resting of the step ladder on a floor of the fabrication facility, and the raised position defined by suspension of the step ladder off of the floor and substantially over the module, wherein rotation of the step ladder from the lowered position to the raised position includes movement of a center of gravity of the step ladder through and past a vertical plane that intersects an axis of rotation of the first joint;
• a plurality of step plates connected to the ladder frame, the step plates defining step surfaces for a user when the step ladder is in the lowered position;
• a sleeve connected to the ladder frame, the sleeve extending below one of the step plates of the step ladder, the sleeve configured to house electronic equipment used in the fabrication facility;
• wherein the one of the step plates below which the sleeve extends is defined from a substantially transparent or translucent material that allows viewing of the electronic equipment.

A ladder assembly, comprising:

• a mounting plate that connects to a side surface of a module that handles, transfers, stores, or processes substrates in a fabrication facility;
• a step ladder, including,
• a ladder frame having an arm that connects to the mounting plate at a first joint, wherein the step ladder rotates about the first joint between a lowered position and a raised position, the lowered positioned defined by resting of the step ladder on a floor of the fabrication facility, and the raised position defined by suspension of the step ladder off of the floor and substantially over the module, wherein rotation of the step ladder from the lowered position to the raised position includes movement of a center of gravity of the step ladder through and past a vertical plane that intersects an axis of rotation of the first joint;
• a plurality of step plates connected to the ladder frame, the step plates defining step surfaces for a user when the step ladder is in the lowered position;
• a sleeve connected to the ladder frame, the sleeve extending below one of the step plates of the step ladder, the sleeve configured to house electronic equipment used in the fabrication facility;
• a gas spring connected between the mounting plate and the arm, the gas spring configured to exert an extension force that reduces an amount of force required to lift the step ladder from the lowered position to the raised position.