Overview
IEC 62899-302-6:2025 - "Printed electronics - Part 302-6: Equipment - Inkjet - First drop measurement" defines standardized methods to evaluate first-drop behaviour in drop‑on‑demand inkjet systems used for printed electronics. The standard covers test equipment, printing procedures, image‑based measurement techniques and analysis approaches to detect jetting speed variation for the first few drops after a non‑jetting pause (including non‑jetting and low jetting speed). It is limited to piezo and thermal drop‑on‑demand inkjet (not continuous inkjet) and is specifically targeted at printed electronics applications, not graphic printing.
Key topics and requirements
- Scope and applicability: Measurement standardization for first‑drop behaviour in printed electronics; excludes continuous inkjet and graphic applications.
- Measurement approaches:
- Printing‑based methods: Analyze printed dots on a standard substrate to identify first‑drop placement and dot defects.
- High‑speed camera imaging: Direct visualization of transient jet behaviour and jetting speed using high frame‑rate capture.
- CCD + pulsed/flash illumination: Strobe/LED illumination with CCD image acquisition for first‑drop timing analysis when high‑speed cameras are not available.
- Test elements covered: Required test equipment characteristics, printing procedures, synchronization/triggering strategies, and data analysis steps for jetting speed and non‑jetting detection.
- Recorded parameters: Guidance on which operating parameters to log for drop speed measurements, non‑jetting time, and pre‑jetting/pre‑printing conditions.
- Annex guidance: Normative annex with key considerations, practical patterns, imaging examples and analysis workflows for first‑drop evaluation.
Practical applications and users
This standard is directly useful for:
- Ink developers optimizing formulations to reduce nozzle drying and first‑drop failures.
- Equipment manufacturers designing inkjet printheads, head‑control algorithms, and maintenance functions.
- Process engineers and production teams implementing pre‑jetting or head‑control (e.g., meniscus excitation) strategies to improve yield and printed accuracy.
- Quality and R&D labs performing repeatable first‑drop characterization using printed dot tests or imaging systems (high‑speed or CCD/strobe).
Practical outcomes include improved jetting reliability, reduced first‑drop defects, better substrate registration after loading/unloading, and informed maintenance/pre‑spitting procedures.
Related standards and resources
- Part of the IEC 62899 series (Printed electronics) developed by IEC TC 119 - consult the IEC webstore for other parts of the series and the latest editions.
- For implementation and purchase, refer to the IEC Products & Services Portal (webstore.iec.ch).
Keywords: IEC 62899-302-6, first drop measurement, inkjet, printed electronics, drop‑on‑demand, piezo inkjet, thermal inkjet, high‑speed camera, CCD strobe, jetting speed, pre‑jetting.
