Abstract: A stencil printer is configured to print an assembly material on an electronic substrate. The stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, a support assembly coupled to the frame, and a print head gantry coupled to the frame. The print head gantry includes an elongate beam that rides along rails provided on the frame and a print head assembly supported by the print head gantry in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a print head having a squeegee blade assembly configured to roll solder paste along the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a solder paste bead recovery system configured to remove a bead of solder paste from a top surface of the stencil and to deposit the bead of solder paste onto a new replacement stencil.

Abstract: Some embodiments include a server system including a first logic module executable by a processor for receiving a data communication from an industrial control system coupled to a communications network. In some embodiments, the data communication comprises data or data streams associated with the industrial process. The program logic of the first logic module includes a model configured to receive a variable and iterate and converge an optimization problem to an optimization solution to a first level of optimization based at least in part on the variable and the data or data streams. A second logic module executable by the processor is operatively data-linked to the first logic module and utilizes a model to iteratively process data values of the optimization solution to a second level of optimization with an increased level of optimization over the first level of optimization.

Abstract: A mask container for storing a mask for photolithography, includes a cover and a base having a plurality of tapered corners. The tapered corners taper outward and downward from a top major surface of the base. The cover having the tapered corners extends downward that covers the tapered corners of the base when the cover is attached to the base. The tapered corners of the cover are tapered at about the same angle as the tapered corners of the base so that a surface of the tapered corners of the cover is substantially parallel to a corresponding surface of the tapered corner of the base when the cover is attached to the base. A recess is located in the tapered corners of the cover. A biasing member and a ball-shaped member are located in the tapered corners of the base to mate with the recess when the cover is attached to the base.

Abstract: Provided is a novel photoinitiator in the form of a hybrid nanoparticle constructed of a semiconductor and metallic regions, and uses thereof.

Abstract: A system for measuring solder paste stencil aperture positions and sizes is provided. The system includes at least one camera configured to acquire images of the stencil and an alignment target. A motion system generates relative motion between the at least one camera and the stencil. A controller is coupled to and controls the motion system. The controller is configured to analyze the images to generate aperture information relative to the stencil. The aperture information is provided to automatically program a solder paste inspection system. Other features and benefits that characterize embodiments of the present invention will be apparent upon reading the following detailed description and review of the associated drawings.

Abstract: A fluid for application onto a substrate is provided in a cavity of a hollow cylindrical application roller that has porous roller wall. Before reaching the transfer point to the substrate, fluid is regionally selectively pushed back away from the outer shell surface of the application roller, into the porous roller wall, by a knockback pressure, in order to regionally selectively produce the effect that, at the transfer point, fluid is located at the outer shell surface of the application roller or no fluid is located at the outer shell surface of the application roller. A regionally selective application of fluid onto a substrate may thus be efficiently produced.

Abstract: A sensor system that employs sub-pixel sized beads for assays is disclosed. The sensor system includes a first plurality of sensor pixels that define a first active sensor area. The first active sensor area is configured to receive a first portion of a fluid sample. The first portion is mixed with a plurality of first functionalized beads for performing a first assay. The sensor system also includes at least a second plurality of sensor pixels that define a second active sensor area. The second active sensor area is configured to receive a second portion of the fluid sample. The second portion is mixed with a second plurality of functionalized beads for performing a second assay. The first assay and the second assay may be configured to detect different concentration ranges of an analyte in the fluid sample.

Abstract: A printing device including a conveyance rod which discharges and introduces a screen mask and a board support member; and a control section. The control section performs a mask exchange process including a mask discharge process of discharging the screen mask to be discharged and a mask introduction process of introducing the screen mask to be introduced by controlling a conveyance rod. In addition, the control section performs a support member exchange process including a support member discharge process of discharging the board support member to be discharged and a support member introduction process of introducing the support member to be introduced by controlling the conveyance rod.

Abstract: A first conveyor belt and second conveyor belt are disposed on guide rail which is disposed so as to extend in a circuit substrate conveyance direction. Then, the circuit substrate supported by both the conveyor belts of the first conveyor belt and the second conveyor belt is held by substrate holding device, and work is performed on the held circuit substrate. In the transfer device having such a structure, for example, when the circuit substrate on which an operation has been completed is conveyed out by the second conveyor belt, a new circuit substrate is conveyed into the transfer device by the first conveyor belt. In this way, it is possible to perform printing work on a new circuit substrate at an early stage and shorten a cycle time.

Abstract: A screen printing device and a screen printing method are provided. The screen printing device includes a screen plate and an electrifying device, the screen plate includes a conductive mesh; and the electrifying device is electrically connected with the conductive mesh and configured to apply voltage to the conductive mesh. The screen printing method includes: adopting a printing head to rub against a screen plate to print ink onto a substrate for silk screen printing, wherein the screen plate includes a conductive mesh; and applying voltage with positive or negative polarity to the conductive mesh in the screen printing process.

Abstract: A photo-conductor drum includes: a cylindrical surface to receive a charge pattern corresponding to an image to be printed; and a protective layer of material coating at least a portion of the cylindrical surface to protect the cylindrical surface from damage prior to installation of the drum in a printing device.

Abstract: A charge storage cell includes a substrate having a back side conductive layer or conductive element, a top side metal pad coupled to the substrate, and an insulating layer formed on the metal pad. The metal pad will support an electric charge injected through the insulating layer by a charged particle beam. A regular array of charge storage cells provides a charge storage array.

Abstract: A method for performing laser-ablation printing may include (i) determining an image to be printed on a printing substrate; (ii) ablating a printing material to expel a plurality of ablated printing material particles from a surface of the printing material; (iii) electrically charging the ablated printing material particles; and (iv) accelerating the electrically charged ablated printing material particles toward the printing substrate so that the accelerated particles are deposited on the printing substrate in a pattern that corresponds to the determined image.

Abstract: Provided is a manufacturing method that may improve the degree of freedom in designing and manufacturing a product in which a permeable medium is used. The manufacturing method may include: an image printing step of forming an image by inkjet printing on a permeable medium based on processing data (S102); a cutting step of cutting the permeable medium into parts in shapes based on the processing data after the image is printed on the permeable medium by inkjet printing in the image printing step (S104); and an assembling step of assembling the parts into a product (S105). The image printing step uses an ink for image printing that can be dried and fixed after a solvent is vaporized from the ink heated by ultraviolet irradiation.

Abstract: Methods of forming shaped structures on a surface are provided. The methods utilize 3D stencils in conjunction with depositing material(s) on a surface. The surface can be non-planar. In some exemplary embodiments, a method of forming a shaped structure on a surface includes placing a 3D stencil onto a non-planar surface such that a non-planar facing side of the stencil conformally covers the non-planar surface, and depositing a material onto the non-planar surface over which the 3D stencil is placed. The deposited material becomes the shaped structure that has at least a layer facing the non-planar surface that conforms to such surface. At least the non-planar facing side of the stencil maintains the shape that is congruent with the non-planar surface when no force is applied to both the non-planar facing side and an opposed opposing side of the stencil. Stencils, stencil masks, kits, and other methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a surface modified overhead conductor with a coating that allows the conductor to operate at lower temperatures. The coating contains about 5% to about 30% of an inorganic adhesive, about 45% to about 92% of a filler, about 2% to about 20% of one or more emissivity agents, and about 1% to about 5% of a stabilizer.

Abstract: A silver paste ink composition comprises a plurality of first particles comprising silver; a polymer binder; a carrier solvent; and a plurality of second particles comprising silver. The second particles are nanoparticles that are different than the first silver particles, the amount of second particles in the ink composition being sufficient to impart a first color to the uncured ink composition, the first color being different than the color of the same ink composition without the nanoparticles. The silver nanoparticles have a property of causing a change in the color of the ink composition when the ink composition is cured.

Abstract: Embodiments of substrates, semiconductor devices and methods are shown that include elongated structures to improve conduction. Elongated structures and methods are also shown that provide electromagnetic isolation to reduce noise in adjacent components.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of correcting a position of a stencil mask which comprises receiving fiducial information from a screen printer, extracting position information of a pad and position information of a solder formed on a board through measuring by a solder paste inspection apparatus, estimating an x, y offset value and a rotating amount of a stencil mask based on the fiducial information by using the position information of the pad and the solder, and transmitting the x,y offset value and the rotating amount of the stencil mask to the screen printer. Thus, a reliability of solder forming process may be increased by correcting a stencil mask position by transmitting a feedback of an x,y offset value and a rotating amount of the stencil mask from a solder paste inspection apparatus, in which the x,y offset value and the rotating amount are estimated based on fiducial information transmitted from the screen printer.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus for printing paste on a printed pattern of a print target constituted of a substrate or a plurality of aligned substrates includes a mask having a plurality of opening patterns different in size from one another. The screen printing apparatus images the substrate or one of the aligned substrates constituting the print target, and calculates a level of deformation by expansion and contraction of the print target, based on a result of the imaging. The screen printing apparatus then selects an opening pattern from among the opening patterns, based on the calculated level of deformation by expansion and contraction of the print target, brings the print target into contact with the mask to superimpose the selected opening pattern on the printed pattern, and deposits the paste on the printed pattern.

Abstract: A method for equipping printed circuit boards on an equipping machine, the printed circuit boards being of a first length, and the equipping machine being realized to equip printed circuit boards of a second length, the second length being more than twice as great as the first length. The equipping machine has an input section (1) and an equipping section (2), the equipping section (2) being disposed after the input section (1) in a direction of conveyance (F) of the printed circuit boards, disposed after the input section (1) in a direction of conveyance of the printed circuit boards, the printed circuit boards of the first length and the printed circuit boards of the second length being transportable, in their longitudinal direction, from the input section (1) into the equipping station (2).

Abstract: A new 3D stencil mask guides deposition of a shaped structure, typically an electromagnetic device component, onto a non-planar surface. The 3D stencil mask includes islands and bridges from prior art two-dimensional lettering stencils, but raises the islands and stencils above the side of the 3D stencil mask facing a non-planar surface, forming undercuts, so that material particles, such as from vacuum metal deposition, will form connected shapes. The 3D stencil mask is also configures so that the dimensions of the resulting electromagnetic structures are altered from a simple projected image of a structure designed for a planar surface so that the electromagnetic properties of the deposited structure are more nearly the same as those of a corresponding structure on a planar surface.

Abstract: A seal formed of laminated films adhered to a peel strip. The seal includes a target area free of adhesive, and adhesive surrounding the target area. The seal is formed so that the target area is visually distinguished from the surrounding adhesive to facilitate accurate placement of the seal on a medical container by a user. The use of a large adhesive dot pattern enhances the peripheral edge of each adhesive dot to provide a prominent and visual lattice. The prominent and visual lattice distinguishes the adhesive areas of the seal from the non-adhesive areas. The lattice boundary surrounding each adhesive dot is still prominent and visible when a clear and transparent adhesive is applied to selected surfaces of the seal.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes an electronic substrate support configured to support an electronic substrate and move the electronic substrate between a lowered position and a raised position. The stencil printer further includes a stencil shuttle assembly configured to support a stencil and to move the stencil between a first position in which the stencil is positioned toward a front of the stencil printer and a second position in which the stencil is positioned toward a back of the stencil printer. The stencil printer further includes a print head configured to engage the stencil to dispense a material onto the substrate during a print stroke. The stencil printer further includes a drive assembly configured to move the print head to perform the print stroke and configured to selectively move the stencil shuttle frame between the first and second positions.

Abstract: A stencil printer includes a stencil shuttle assembly coupled to a frame. The stencil shuttle assembly is configured to move the stencil in an x-axis direction between a first position in which the stencil is positioned toward a front of the stencil printer and a second position in which the stencil is positioned toward a back of the stencil printer. The stencil shuttle assembly further is configured to move the stencil in a y-axis direction to align the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a wiper to remove material from the stencil as the stencil is translated away from the substrate by the stencil shuttle assembly. The stencil shuttle assembly, when the stencil is translated away from the substrate, is configured to move the stencil in the y-axis direction in an oscillating manner. Methods of cleaning a stencil are further disclosed.

Abstract: Provided is an ink jet recording apparatus including a tray detachably mounted on a tray support portion of an ink jet recording apparatus in which the tray includes a main body having a support surface to support a medium, two of a first positioning pin and second positioning pin which protrude toward a mounting surface on an opposite side of a setting surface of the main body and are used at the time of mounting the main body on the tray support portion, and the tray support portion includes two of a first hole portion and second hole portion in which the two positioning pins are inserted respectively, and a placing portion on which the tray is mounted in a state where the two positioning pins are inserted in the two hole portions.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the layered construction of a shaped body made of highly viscous photopolymerizable material.

Abstract: A screen printing machine for forming a print of paste supplied to a mask plate having pattern holes, includes: a flexible filling squeegee which performs a squeegeeing operation in which the filling squeegee is moved relative to the mask plate in a printing direction; and a scraping squeegee which is held to maintain a given interval from the filling squeegee in the printing direction and to be movable together with the filling squeegee in the printing direction, and which scraps off the paste remaining on the mask plate after passage of the filling squeegee. In the squeegeeing operation, the filling squeegee is pushed up and bent by the paste to provide a clearance between a bottom end of the filling squeegee and the mask plate with the paste interposed therebetween so that the pattern holes are filled with paste with a prescribed filling pressure.

Abstract: An imaging part in a screen printing device which images a board and a screen mask includes a single camera which is disposed with a posture of horizontally facing towards an incidence optical axis, a half mirror which makes an imaging light, which is incident through a lower imaging optical axis, to be incident on a camera, and a mirror which makes an imaging light, which is incident through an upper imaging optical axis, to pass through the half mirror and to be incident on the camera, and further has an upper illuminating part and a lower illuminating part which individually illuminate respective imaging objects. Imaging light is taken in the camera in a state that the upper illuminating part and the lower illuminating part are individually operated in a mask imaging step and a board imaging step, respectively.

Abstract: A printing system includes a screen printing unit as a printing processor of a non-digital system and an ink jet printing device as a printing processor of a digital system. Holes as reference marks formed in a three-dimensional shape are provided on a placement table which is used commonly in the screen printing unit and the ink jet printing device. Positioning of printing positions is performed with reference to the same holes on both of the screen printing unit and the ink jet printing device.

Abstract: A light receiving section 27b receives a measurement beam, which is cast from a light projection section 27a and partially blocked by cream solder 19 scraped up by a squeegee 16, whereby a sensor 27 measures a one-dimensional size of a predetermined region of a cross sectional profile of the cream solder 19 as a cross sectional paste length and takes the cross sectional paste length as an index for an amount of residual cream solder 19. The amount of residual cream solder 19 can be numerically grasped at all times, so that versatility and accuracy in detecting the amount of residual cream solder 19 can be assured.

Abstract: A method of screen printing positionally synchronizes a plurality of pallet assemblies on a first screen printing machine with a plurality of pallet assemblies on a second screen printing machine. A screen printed garment having a properly aligned first image received from the first screen printing machine is transferred on a portion of one of the pallet assemblies on the first screen printing machine to one of the plurality of pallet assemblies on the second printing machine. The properly aligned first image on the garment is in proper positional alignment with a screen printing head on the second screen printing machine such that a second image complimentary to the first image is printed on the garment in proper position on the garment relative to the first image without user intervention to positionally locate the first image relative to the screen printing head on the second machine.

Abstract: An electrode formation method for a solar cell to form an electrode of a base member, includes a screen printing process and a baking process. The screen printing process includes: mounting a metal mask on a surface of the base member, wherein the metal mask includes a covering portion configured to cover a part of a surface of the base member, opening portions configured to allow parts of the base member to be exposed therefrom, and bridge portions disposed along a direction intersecting with a longitudinal direction of circuit patterns between the opening portions; and supplying a paste to an upper surface of the metal mask by a squeegee head of a cartridge type, while relatively sliding a squeegee on the upper surface of the metal mask such that the squeegee travels relatively to the metal mask. In the baking process, the paste is baked to form the electrode.

Abstract: A method of stencil printing small aspect features includes performing a stencil print stroke across a stencil having at least one small aspect opening with a stencil printer having a squeegee blade, and venting an area below the at least one small aspect opening. Another method includes performing a stencil print stroke across a stencil having at least one small aspect opening with a stencil printer having a multi-blade squeegee, and venting an area below the at least one small aspect opening. A stencil printer includes a stencil having apertures formed therein, and a print head positioned over the stencil and configured to deposit viscous material within the apertures of the stencil. The print head includes a support, a first pair of blades secured to the support, and a second pair of blades secured to the support.

Abstract: A print head assembly (119) for printing a print medium (PM) onto a workpiece (W) through a printing screen (105) which includes a screen element having a pattern of printing apertures therein, the assembly comprising: first and second carriages (141) which are in use movably supported on respective ones of first and second guides (117); and first and second print head units (143, 145) which are mounted in adjacent, parallel relation to and between the carriages, wherein the print head units each comprise first and second print head actuators which are mounted on respective ones of the carriages, and a support member (151) which extends between the print head actuators, such as to be movable vertically thereby, and in use supports a printing element.

Abstract: A method of heat transfer printing using quantum dots is described. The method can be used to form an image using quantum dots on a substrate that is not easily printed using conventional printing techniques. Also described is a quantum dot ink formulation for heat transfer printing. The methods and materials can be used for anti-counterfeiting applications.

Abstract: At the two ends of a pair of clamping members (9a) which sandwich and clamp a board (10) from the Y direction, mask supporting members (9b) forming a rectangle frame are disposed, and a screen mask (12) is supported from below by the mask supporting members (9b) in a state that the board (10) abuts against the under surface of the screen mask (12). A downwards bending of the screen mask (12) can be prevented, and the time and labor of maintenance can be decreased by preventing the deposits of paste on the screen mask (12) that occur due to the bending.

Abstract: An SMT screen printer 100 is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the screen printer 100 comprises: i) a stencil 110 with a plurality of apertures; ii) a paste dispenser arranged to dispense a paste material through the plurality of apertures of the stencil to form a print pattern of the stencil to form a print pattern of the paste material on an electronic device; iii) an image capturing device in the form of a fiducial camera 176 arranged to capture at least one image of the plurality of apertures 114 of the stencil 110; iv) a processor 180 arranged to select which of the apertures 114 require cleaning based on the at least one captured image; and v) a cleaning device 138 arranged to clean the selected apertures 114.

Abstract: A screen printer 100 for paste material printing is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the screen printer 100 comprises a printing chamber 104; and a plurality of support members in the form of lifting tables 114, 116 arranged adjacent to one another along a single conveying path for individually supporting a respective PCB 202, 240 in the printing chamber 104. The screen printer 100 further includes a stencil 120 having a plurality of print patterns 124, 126 with each print pattern 124, 126 arranged adjacent to another print pattern to correspond to the positions of the lifting tables 114, 116 with each print pattern 124, 126 corresponding to a desired paste pattern to be printed onto the PCBs. The screen printer 100 also includes a paste printer arranged to print paste material on the at least one substrate using at least one of the print patterns. A screen printing method is also disclosed.

Abstract: A stencil printer for printing viscous material on an electronic substrate includes a stencil having apertures formed therein, and a print head positioned over the stencil and configured to deposit viscous material within the apertures of the stencil. The print head includes a housing defining an elongate chamber, a source port defining a passage having an inlet positioned to allow viscous material to flow into the elongate chamber, a pair of blades defining a slot that provides an outlet from which viscous material can flow out of the elongate chamber, an elongate plunger movable in the elongate chamber to reduce a volume of viscous material within the elongate chamber, and at least one sensor to detect pressure of the viscous material within the elongate chamber.

Abstract: A multi-spectrum screen exposure system for curing printing emulsions, including an enclosure with a platen that is transmissive to at least some ultraviolet wavelengths of light, a cover shiftable between an open orientation wherein the platen is accessible to an operator and a closed orientation wherein the platen is covered and inaccessible to the operator, a light emitting diode illumination (LED) light source assembly supported within the enclosure and oriented to direct illumination toward the platen, the light emitting diode illumination light source assembly emitting at least some light in the ultraviolet wavelengths, and a control unit operably coupled to the light emitting diode illumination light source assembly by which the light emitting diode illumination light source assembly can be operated in a controlled fashion.

Abstract: Prior to a mark imaging process executed for the purpose of detecting a position of recognition marks for positioning the substrate and the mask, an optical axis calibration processing process of detecting a horizontal relative position between imaging optical axes, and a surface correction data creation processing process of detecting a local positional deviation of the imaging optical axes, which is caused by the travel of the imaging unit, are executed. Before starting production, a production pre-start precision evaluation process for evaluating a substrate positioning precision is executed by using a verification substrate and a verification mask, and after starting the production, a production post-start precision evaluation process for evaluating a substrate positioning precision after starting the production is executed by using a commercial production substrate and a commercial production mask.

Abstract: A screen printing screen, having: a screen printing stencil carrier which is configured as a film which is provided with first recesses which are configured in such a way that they reach from one upper side to the underside of the film, and a screen printing stencil which is configured as a nonmetallic masking layer which is connected fixedly to the underside of the screen printing stencil carrier, the masking layer being provided with second recesses which lie in congruence at least partially with the first recesses of the screen printing stencil carrier in such a way that a printing medium can pass through the first recesses of the screen printing stencil carrier from its upper side in the direction of the underside and through the second recesses of the masking layer to a substrate which can be placed underneath.

Abstract: A paste supply apparatus includes a plurality of paste pots each including a tubular container which stores paste and which includes a bottom portion provided with a through hole and a movable inner lid provided in the tubular container, and a pot holder which holds the paste pots so as to be horizontally arranged along an arrangement direction such that the through hole of each of the paste pots is directed downward and downward movement of the tubular container thereof is regulated. The paste supply apparatus further includes a pot holder moving device which moves the pot holder along the arrangement direction and selectively positions one of the plurality of paste pots at an ejection position, and a paste ejecting device which presses the inner lid of the paste pot positioned at the ejection position and which ejects the paste in the tubular container from the through hole.

Abstract: A paste supply apparatus includes a plurality of paste pots each including a bottomed tubular container storing paste and a movable inner lid provided in the tubular container and having a through hole formed in a center portion thereof, and a pot holder which holds the paste pots so as to be horizontally arranged along an arrangement direction such that the through hole of each of the paste pots is directed downward and downward movement of the inner lid thereof is regulated. The paste supply apparatus further includes a pot holder moving device which moves the pot holder along the arrangement direction and selectively positions one of the plurality of paste pots at an ejection position, and a paste ejecting device which presses the tubular container of the paste pot positioned at the ejection position and which ejects the paste in the tubular container from the through hole.

Abstract: A cleaning assembly 114 and cleaning method for a screen printer 100 for paste material printing is disclosed herein. In a described embodiment, the cleaning assembly 114 comprises an image capturing device having a fiducial camera 124 arranged to move to respective fiducial positions for performing fiducial recognition of a number of fiduciary markers 202,204 on the PCB 200 and on a stencil 112 of the screen printer 100; and a cleaning device in the form of a cleaning blade 128 that is arranged to clean the stencil 112 during the movement of the image capturing device 124.

Abstract: The invention relates to a scented preparation that comprises a scented compound, as well as to a method for its manufacture. The invention relates also to a method for manufacturing a product comprising scented-compound, as well as to the use of such a product. The scented preparation according to the invention comprises at least one scented compound and a carrier, as well as a binder for blending and bonding the scented compound and the carrier with and to each other.

Abstract: There is described a device and method for magnetically transferring indicia to a coating composition, such as an ink or varnish, applied to at least a part of the surface of a substrate, the coating composition comprising at least one type of magnetic or magnetizable particles. The device comprises a body subjected to a magnetic field generated by appropriate electromagnetic means, which body carries determined indicia in the form of engravings on a surface of the body, which engravings influence orientation of field lines of the magnetic field. The body comprises at least one layer of material of high magnetic permeability in which the engravings are formed. In unengraved regions of the layer of material of high magnetic permeability, the field lines of the magnetic field extend substantially parallel to the surface of the body inside said layer of material of high magnetic permeability.

Abstract: A screen printing apparatus includes a print screen including a printed pattern through which an ink passes, a scraper that coats the ink on the print screen, a squeegee that makes contact with the print screen and pushes out the ink through the printed pattern. A control unit may control a transfer of the scraper. After the ink is coated on the print screen, a lower portion of the scraper is transferred to a direction, in which the squeegee is disposed, by the control unit and disposed on the squeegee. The apparatus helps avoid uneven distribution of that could result in undesirable “stains” on a substrate.

Abstract: Various embodiments include a fuel cell stack seal application method including the step of applying a seal paste to a fuel cell, placing the fuel cell in a fuel cell stack, and thermally treating the fuel cell stack to set the seal paste into a seal. Further embodiments include applying the seal paste to an interconnect using stencil printing.