Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus, having a print surface lying in a print plane defined by an imaginary x-axis and y-axis, the print surface having an outward normal pointing in the positive direction along an imaginary z-axis, such that the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are substantially orthogonal to one another, a lower stamp clamp disposed adjacent to the negative-x edge of the print surface, an upper stamp clamp, moveable in two dimensions in a trajectory plane defined by the x-axis and z-axis, a stamp comprising a flexible material, the stamp having a first end attached to the lower stamp clamp and a second end attached to the upper stamp clamp, such that a cross section of the stamp parallel to the trajectory plane forms an arc extending from an origin point Q on the lower stamp clamp having (x,z) coordinates (0,0) to point E on the upper stamp clamp, this arc being described by the mathematical function &thgr;(s), where s is the curvilinear distance along the arc measured from point Q, and &thgr; is the

Abstract: Disclosed is a printing apparatus, having a print surface lying in a print plane defined by an imaginary x-axis and y-axis, the print surface having an outward normal pointing in the positive direction along an imaginary z-axis, such that the x-axis, y-axis, and z-axis are substantially orthogonal to one another, a lower stamp clamp disposed adjacent to the negative-x edge of the print surface, an upper stamp clamp, moveable in two dimensions in a trajectory plane defined by the x-axis and z-axis, a stamp comprising a flexible material, the stamp having a first end attached to the lower stamp clamp and a second end attached to the upper stamp clamp, such that a cross section of the stamp parallel to the trajectory plane forms an arc extending from an origin point Q on the lower stamp clamp having (x,z) coordinates (0,0) to point E on the upper stamp clamp, this arc being described by the mathematical function &thgr;(s), where s is the curvilinear distance along the arc measured from point Q, and &thgr; is the

Abstract: A fluid collection apparatus having an accumulator for contacting a polishing surface of a polishing pad and collecting fluid from the polishing pad, a reservoir for receiving fluid from the accumulator, and a volume maintainer for maintaining a set volume of fluid in the reservoir.