Abstract: A substrate-supporting rod (4) includes a resin body (41) and a metal rod (43). The resin body (41) includes a body portion (411) being cylinder-shaped and having a first through hole (413) in a direction of the axis thereof, and a number of shelves (415, 415?) arising from said body portion and extending in parallel away from said body portion at a predetermined pitch. The body portion and the number of shelves are unitary portions of the resin body. The metal rod is received in the first through hole. A projection (4151) is defined on the end of each of shelf to support a substrate (45). The projection is cylindrical in shape of which the diameter is larger than the thickness of the corresponding shelf, and a central axis thereof is substantially perpendicular to a central axis of the body portion.

Abstract: A substrate-supporting rod (4) comprises a resin body (41) and a metal rod (43). The resin body (41) includes a body portion (411) being cylinder-shaped and having a first through hole (413) in a direction of the axis thereof and a number of shelves (415, 415?) arising from said body portion (411) and extending in parallel and inwardly of a cassette (5) at a predetermined pitch. The metal rod (43) is received in the first through hole (413) of the body portion (411) so as to increase the rigidity of the substrate-supporting rob (4). A projection (4151) is defined on the end of each shelf (415, 415?) to support a substrate (45). Further, the body portion (411) is molded from an electrically conductive resin so that not only the cassette (5) can be protected against static discharge but also resin material is saved and cost is decreased.