Abstract: The present invention is directed to a thin plate manufacturing apparatus for forming a thin plate on the surface of a substrate by dipping the substrate held by a substrate transport mechanism (1) in melting fluid, a thin plate manufacturing method, and a solar cell using the thin plate, the substrate transfer mechanism (1) installed so as to be movable in horizontal direction (104) along a horizontal moving shaft (8) installed so as to be movable along vertical moving shaft (9). Further, the substrate transfer mechanism (1) comprising a means for diagonally inclining the substrate (2) or a means for attaching/detaching the substrate, whereby the thin plate of flat shape can be provided and the shape of the thin plate thus obtained can be optimized.