Front opening ring pod

A pod for exchanging consumable parts of a process module, comprising:

• a base plate having an outer perimeter defined by a front side, a back side and two lateral sides that extend between the front side and the back side;
• a top plate oriented vertically opposite to the base plate, the top plate being substantially parallel to the base plate;
• a first pair of support columns, each one of the first pair of support columns is oriented along each of the two lateral sides and disposed proximal to the front side of the base plate, and each one of the first pair of support columns extends between the top plate and the base plate, each one of the first pair of support columns includes a plurality of support fingers distributed lengthwise along the respective support column of the first pair of support columns and faces inward relative to the outer perimeter;
• a second pair of support columns, each one of the second pair of support columns is oriented along each of the two lateral sides and disposed proximal to the back side of the base plate, and each one of the second pair of support columns extends between the top plate and the base plate, each one of the second pair of support columns includes a plurality of support fingers distributed lengthwise along the respective support column of the second pair of support columns and faces inward relative to the outer perimeter;
• a first hard stop column disposed proximate to a first one of the second pair of support columns;
• a second hard stop column disposed proximate to a second one of the second pair of support columns, wherein each of the first and the second hard stop columns extends a length of the second pair of support columns, such that an edge surface of each of the first and the second hard stop columns faces inward relative to the outer perimeter;
• a shell structure of the pod is configured to attach to the base plate and enclose the first pair of support columns, the second pair of support columns, the top plate and the first and second hard stop columns, the shell structure having a front opening that is disposed along the front side of the base plate;
• and
• a door is configured to mate with the front opening of the shell structure and the front side of the base plate, the door is configured with a retention assembly that is disposed on an inside surface of the door and extends between the base plate and the top plate, such that consumable parts when disposed in the pod are configured to rest upon the support fingers of the first and second pairs of support columns and the retention assembly secures the consumable parts against the first and second hard stop columns when the door is closed.