IEC 62899-301-3:2024

Overview

IEC 62899-301-3:2024 - Printed Electronics, Part 301-3: Equipment - Contact printing - Rigid master - Method to measure the shape errors of printing plate rollers - is an International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) standard that defines measurement terms and methods for quantifying the geometric shape errors of printing plate rollers used in contact printing for printed electronics.

This standard specifies how to measure and report key geometrical parameters such as radius, total run‑out, and three primary shape errors: axial deviation, radial deviation, and cross‑sectional deviation. Any remaining variation beyond these three is defined as the residual shape error. Measurement excludes the pattern area and applies to printing plate rollers with or without patterns.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Defined measurement terms: radius, total run‑out, axial deviation, radial deviation, cross‑sectional deviation, residual shape error.
• Scope limitation: applies to rigid master printing plate rollers; excludes patterned areas for measurement.
• Measurement methods (Clause 4):
  • General principles for measuring shape errors.
  • Requirements for the measuring instrument and recommended measurement setup.
  • Measuring process steps to capture circumferential and axial data points.
  • Reporting requirements and example report formats.
• Numerical procedures (Annex B, normative): procedures to extract the least‑squares reference circle, remove axial and radial deviations, compute cross‑sectional deviation, and calculate residual shape errors.
• Supplementary guidance:
  • Annex A (informative): relationship between roller shape and printing force variation.
  • Annex C (informative): worked examples of reports and graphical outputs.
• Metrology detail: guidance on sample points per circumference and data handling (table and figures provided), but no specific acceptance/tolerance levels are prescribed in this document.

Practical applications and who uses this standard

• Printed electronics manufacturers and production engineers use the standard to assess master quality and control printed feature fidelity (critical when printing features <20 µm).
• Printing plate roller manufacturers and tooling suppliers for quality assurance and product specifications.
• Equipment vendors and metrology labs to design measurement fixtures, select instruments, and produce standardized reports.
• R&D teams working on high‑resolution contact printing methods to separate roller-induced dynamic errors from bearing/motion or loading effects.
• Use cases include reducing printing registration errors, minimizing linewidth variations, and improving mass‑production yield for printed circuits and devices.

Related standards

• Part of the IEC 62899 series - Printed Electronics. Users should consult other parts of IEC 62899 for related measurement, process, and equipment requirements in printed electronics. For implementation details, refer to the normative references listed in the standard.