The invention relates to a three-dimensional screen printing method for producing a green part from printing material for a powder metallurgical component, wherein the printing material contains a fraction of powder, more particularly metal powder or ceramic powder, and binder or consists of these materials, characterized in that a screen printing mask has a screen printing structure having openings for pressing the printing material through, the openings being partly undulate so that the green part at least partly has a three-dimensional undulate structure and/or undulate edges.

Support blocks for printed circuit boards (PCB's) and printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA's), wherein the support blocks are produced from a 3D printing process. The support block including a bottom surface having a vacuum connection; a top surface having at least one vacuum hole; at least one recessed surface that is offset from the top surface; and at least one vacuum channel extending from the vacuum connection to the at least one vacuum hole.

A printing form for producing a structure of an electronic component, in particular a photovoltaic solar cell, having a screen frame and a screen, which is in the form of a sheet-like textile and has a multiplicity of elongate screen elements. The screen is arranged in the screen frame and the screen has at least one printing region which a printing paste can permeate and at least one barrier region which the printing paste cannot permeate. The elongate screen elements are made from glass fiber, carbon fiber and/or carbon nanotubes.

A printing form for producing a structure of an electronic component, in particular a photovoltaic solar cell, having a screen frame and a screen, which is in the form of a sheet-like textile and has a multiplicity of elongate screen elements. The screen is arranged in the screen frame and the screen has at least one printing region which a printing paste can permeate and at least one barrier region which the printing paste cannot permeate. The elongate screen elements are made from glass fiber, carbon fiber and/or carbon nanotubes.

In some examples, a screen printing unit includes a screen printing forme cylinder, an impression cylinder, and at least one further rotational transport body. A fixing element of the impression cylinder includes inner and outer contact surfaces for clamping sheets. The inner contact surface has a base radius as a distance from an axis of rotation of the impression cylinder. A cylinder barrel of the impression cylinder has a supporting surface for sheets that includes an impression portion having a constant barrel radius, which extends over at least 170° about the axis of rotation of the impression cylinder and the barrel radius is larger than the base radius. A fixing element of the further rotational transport body includes an inner and an outer contact surface for clamping sheets. The inner contact surface includes the base radius as a distance from an axis of rotation of the further rotational transport body.

In some examples, a screen printing unit includes a screen printing forme cylinder, an impression cylinder, and at least one further rotational transport body. A fixing element of the impression cylinder includes inner and outer contact surfaces for clamping sheets. The inner contact surface has a base radius as a distance from an axis of rotation of the impression cylinder. A cylinder barrel of the impression cylinder has a supporting surface for sheets that includes an impression portion having a constant barrel radius, which extends over at least 170° about the axis of rotation of the impression cylinder and the barrel radius is larger than the base radius. A fixing element of the further rotational transport body includes an inner and an outer contact surface for clamping sheets. The inner contact surface includes the base radius as a distance from an axis of rotation of the further rotational transport body.

A tensioning frame for tensioning a printing screen comprises struts to reinforce the constituent beams. These may be provided either on a supplementary brace plate or integrally formed with the beam. A shaft may be used to retain engagement bodies within pockets formed in the beam.

Support blocks for printed circuit boards (PCB's) and printed circuit board assemblies (PCBA's), wherein the support blocks are produced from a 3D printing process. The support block including a bottom surface having a vacuum connection; a top surface having at least one vacuum hole; at least one recessed surface that is offset from the top surface; and at least one vacuum channel extending from the vacuum connection to the at least one vacuum hole.

A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.

A stencil printer includes a frame, a stencil coupled to the frame, and a support assembly coupled to the frame, with the support assembly including tooling configured to support the electronic substrate in a print position beneath the stencil. The stencil printer further includes a print head assembly coupled to the frame in such a manner that the print head assembly is configured to traverse the stencil during print strokes. The print head assembly includes a squeegee blade assembly and at least one paste cartridge to deposit solder paste on the stencil. The stencil printer further includes an end effector configured to pick up and release items from a tooling tray. The stencil printer further includes a movable cart configured to interface with the stencil printer to deliver changeover and/or replacement items within a stencil printer.