Abstract: A novel electroformed squeegee blade for the uniform deposition of printing material such as solder paste and the like onto printed wiring boards is disclosed. A method of fabricating the electroformed squeegee blade is also disclosed. The method of fabrication, which produces an electroformed squeegee blade having smooth, planar, and flat surfaces, involves electroforming at least one uniform layer of metal onto a conductive substrate and removing the substrate. Also disclosed is an apparatus and method that employ the electroformed squeegee blade to uniformly deposit printing material on printed wiring boards.

Abstract: A method of forming a fiducial in a stencil for screen printing and the stencil so formed is described. A target fiducial thru-hole of a first size is formed in the stencil, the surface of the stencil in an area around and larger than the size of the target thru-hole is electrochemically etched, and the target fiducial thru-hole is filled with a filling material. The target fiducial thru-hole, included as part of the stencil pattern, is used as a target to which the fiducial mask, used in the electrochemical etching, can be aligned to. The target fiducial thru-hole may be made smaller than previously feasible because the fiducial is electrochemically etched, which means that it cannot fall out of the stencil. The filling in the target fiducial thru-hole is less likely to fail since it has a drastically decreased surface area to wall thickness area ratio compared to conventionally formed fiducials.

Abstract: A spray director incorporates structure that generates upstream turbulence for control of spray distribution and spray droplet size. A method of fabricating spray director utilizes a multilayer resist process in conjunction with a multilayer electroforming process.

Abstract: A zero sack volume fluid flow regulator generates upstream turbulence for control of fluid flow, fluid spray distribution and fluid droplet size. The fluid flow regulator includes a seal layer for selectively controlling fluid flow. The seal layer is resiliently movable relative to a base layer to selectively constrict a turbulence inducing intermediate channel within the regulator and selectively control fluid flow. A method of fabricating the fluid flow regulator utilizes a multilayer resist process in conjunction with a multilayer electroforming process.

Abstract: To prepare a screen printing stencil, a pattern of resist, having a complementary design to the final screen printing stencil, is applied to a conductive mandrel. A patterned layer is electroformed onto the exposed surface of the mandrel such that the layer corresponds to the exposed orifices of the pattern of resist. The resulting screen printing stencil can have an overgrowth geometry or a straight-wall geometry depending on the type of photoresist employed, and can be used in the electronic substrate fabrication and electronic assembly industries.

Abstract: A catalyst contains at least one Group VIII metal and/or Group VIII metal oxide deposited on internal surfaces of a support which contains a sintered agglomerate substrate which is preferably coated with a hydrated metal oxide.

Abstract: To prepare a screen printing stencil, a pattern of resist, having a complementary design to the final screen printing stencil, is applied to a conductive mandrel. A patterned layer is electroformed onto the exposed surface of the mandrel such that the layer corresponds to the exposed orifices of the pattern of resist. The resulting screen printing stencil has raised edges surrounding orifices. The raised edges are placed against a surface of a substrate to be printed in use of the stencil. The screen printing stencil can be used for printing substrates in the electronic substrate fabrication and electronic assembly industries.