Stage, stage manufacturing method, and heat exchanger

A stage manufacturing method, comprising:

• preparing a plate having a front surface, on which a substrate is mounted, and a rear surface, and preparing a case;
• preparing a heat exchanger and a flow path unit either individually or simultaneously;
• and
• manufacturing a stage which includes the plate, the case, the heat exchanger and the flow path unit,
• wherein the heat exchanger includes:
• a plurality of first pipes extending upward toward the rear surface of the plate, each of the plurality of the first pipes providing a first open end portion facing the rear surface of the plate and a second open end portion positioned at an opposite side from the first open end portion, the plurality of first pipes distributed below the plate;
• a plurality of partition walls configured to define a plurality of spaces surrounding the first pipes, respectively;
• and
• a plurality of second pipes connected to the plurality of partition walls so as to respectively communicate with the plurality of spaces, and each of the second pipes providing a third open end portion for discharging the heat exchange medium,
• wherein the flow path unit includes:
• a plurality of first flow paths having first end portions and second end portions, the first end portions of the first flow paths respectively connected to the first pipes;
• and
• a plurality of second flow paths having first end portions and second end portions, the first end portions of the second flow paths respectively connected to the second pipes,
• wherein the case is configured to support the plate and to define, together with the plate, an accommodation space which accommodates the heat exchanger and the flow path unit,
• wherein the flow path unit is a solid body as a whole having a top surface, a side surface and a bottom surface, and the first flow paths and the second flow paths are formed as cavities within the solid body,
• wherein each of the first end portions of the plurality of first flow paths is opened on the top surface in a position coinciding with one corresponding second open end portion of the plurality of first pipes, when viewed in plan view, and each of the first end portions of the plurality of second flow paths is opened on the top surface in a position coinciding with one corresponding third open end portion of the plurality of second pipes, when viewed in plan view,
• wherein the flow path unit includes:
• a first cluster portion in which the second end portions of the first flow paths are locally collected;
• and
• a second cluster portion in which the second end portions of the second flow paths are locally collected,
• wherein, in the first cluster portion and the second cluster portion, each of the first flow paths and the second flow paths is maintained as an independent flow path,
• wherein the case includes a first opening which faces the first cluster portion of the flow path unit and a second opening which faces the second cluster portion of the flow path unit, and
• wherein at least the flow path unit is formed using a 3D printer.