Process Engineer, The best method for checking dimensional stability is to check the process and not each individual phototool. Although you may want to check a few films in process, time is better spent checking a 'checkplot' film at regular intervals. Suggested intervals may be morning, noon, and night or Monday, Wednesday, Friday or whatever gives you a high confidence level. It is important to chart the results of the measurements to identify any trends or patterns. The checkplot can have numerous targets to check the accuracy over a small area as well as over a large area. Your checkplot should also have features to measure line widths, density, and to indicate possible pinhole problems. Many succesful companies have moved to a zero touch up environment. Although each film is inspected for pinholes or scratches, if any are found the cause is identified and eliminated and a new film is imaged. This eliminates the time and labor of touch up, reduces the amount of film handling, and forces the artwork production team to focus on the process of proper procedures, maintenance, etc. Assuming the environment temperature and humidity is controlled and the film processor and photoplotter are properly maintained, you can begin to rely on the overall system to produce consistent phototools. I would recommend against pre-punching the film. This simply adds an additional step and could introduce unwanted variables into the process. George Murray Gerber Systems [log in to unmask] ---------- From: TechNet-request To: TechNet Subject: Phototool dimensional stability Date: Tuesday, January 07, 1997 3:47AM Hello: What have you found to be the best way to check dimensional stability in the silver halide artwork phototools? I'm working in a large volume production facility. The artwork design is sent from a CAM system to the drum laser plotter where it is imaged onto silver halide film which has been stabilized for at least four hours. Then it is sent to a developer unit. The plotter and developer system is in a class 1000 cleanroom. The next step in the process is to AOI the film for "copper splashes" and "pinholes." Then the film is touched up. My major concern is that the film retains its size and shape so that it will be accurate for imaging manufacturing. Is it best to put targets in the artwork design around the peripheral of the image and then measure these targets at various times? Or, is it better to punch holes in the film around the edges after equalization and prior to laser exposure to measure the development process? I don't want to overdo it putting too many targets on the artwork or in collecting insufficient data. We do have measuring equipment which is located within the adjacent film inspection area, which is a class 10,000 cleanroom. I haven't seen much discussion on the artwork or its creation processes in this forum. I hope this sparks some discussion. If this has already been discussed previously, my apologies. Thank you in advance. Sincerely, Process Engineer *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To unsubscribe from this list at any time, send a message to: * * [log in to unmask] with <subject: unsubscribe> and no text. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * *************************************************************************** *************************************************************************** * TechNet mail list is provided as a service by IPC using SmartList v3.05 * *************************************************************************** * To unsubscribe from this list at any time, send a message to: * * [log in to unmask] with <subject: unsubscribe> and no text. * *************************************************************************** * If you are having a problem with the IPC TechNet forum please contact * * Dmitriy Sklyar at 847-509-9700 ext. 311 or email at [log in to unmask] * ***************************************************************************