ZEISS Knowledge Base

The standard template editor provides so-called Standard Templates. A Standard Template defines rules for the particle size classification and definitions for acceptance criteria. The results based on these definitions are displayed in the Size Distribution view, see also Size Distribution View.

For each of the supported standards one pre-configured standard template per method is provided. A wizard guides you through the configuration in the standard template editor, see Opening Standard Templates.

For more information on the supported standards for technical cleanliness, see Introduction to Standards.

You can select all standard templates in the job template using the Standard Selection Tool, see also Technical Cleanliness Standard Selection Tool.

As a Supervisor, you can copy and edit standard templates to address company internal guidelines. You can adapt the size classification and define individual acceptance criteria. Note that the standard template is also saved in XML-format as a .cztct file on your local drive under <C:\ProgramData\Carl Zeiss\ZENCore\UserArchive\Technical Cleanliness Standards>.

Work in the Standard Template Editor

To adapt the data according to your needs, set the value ranges for each particle size class in the Center Screen Area. Add acceptance criteria or select certain particle size classes for the particle height measurement in a subsequent job run. To select additionally particle size classes for EM/EDS measurement, active licenses for ZEN Connect and ZEN connect 2D add-on are required.

You can modify the existing size classification by length or width. This includes the option to add or delete size classes generating your own customized size classification.

Modify the selected standard template by the following:
- Changing the size classification for length or width. The default values are Feret Max and Feret Min.
- As an option: changing the measurement parameter for length and width. This is only recommended for standard independent particle size classification.
- Defining acceptance criteria for allowed particle number per size class.
- Defining acceptance criteria according to the logic defined. These criteria are based on mathematical conditions for particle length and/or width. The default values are Feret Max and Feret Min.

You save the standard template any time by leaving the standard template editor by clicking Home and then saving your changes.

Understanding Approval Rating

To receive an approval rating in the Size Distribution view, the Supervisor must define the acceptance criteria in the standard template and load subsequently the standard template into the desired job template. You can define either acceptance criteria based on particle counts per size class or directly based on particle size.

Select the required normalization parameter in the standard template. The normalization value for N, A or V you define in the Standard Specific Settings workbench of the job template.
Note: Any time you modify a standard template, you must reload it to the job template.

The analysis results are displayed in the Size Distribution view as well as in the Report in tables and charts. For the Operator it is possible to inspect the results in the Size Distribution view in detail and to use the NOK button to filter and to identify rapidly potentially process critical particles.

For information on the Size Distribution view, see Size Distribution View.

Settings in the standard template by the Supervisor

In Manage Templates, in the Standard Template Editor, open the desired standard template to edit it, see Opening Standard Templates.
Decide whether you want to rate the approval based on the number of particles per size class or per particle size, see Defining Basic Template Settings.
Modify the particle size classes for length, and or width, if required; select the parameter (absolute, N, V, A) to which the approval rating is related to and define your particle limit values per size class. You can assign the allowed number of particles, either per particle type or you decide that all particle types should have the same allowed value for number of particles. These are the acceptance criteria for the approval rating of the detected particle counts per size and type class. See Defining Length and Width Classes (Workbench Area) and Defining Length and Width Classes (Center Screen Area).
Alternatively, you can define the allowed particle size in length and width for each particle type, see Defining the Approval Logic.

Settings in the job template by the Supervisor

In the Standard Specific Settings workbench, in the Normalization Parameter tool, decide whether the Operator shall be able to select normalized calculation or not. You carry out a normalization, for example, setting the number of particles of several components in a ratios you obtain an average value normalized for the defined number of components value is then used for the approval rating. The normalized value is used as base for approval rating and cleanliness level assignment. See Normalization Parameter (Components) Tool or Normalization Parameter (Oil Cleanliness) Tool.
Open the job template and import the standard with the approval rating settings you have defined, see Technical Cleanliness Standard Selection Tool.

Job run by the Operator

Run the job.
If the Supervisor has enabled it, in the Standard Specific Settings workbench, in the Normalization Parameter tool, you can enter normalization values (N, V, A) to compare the results.
In the next step, in the Size Distribution view, the absolute number of particles per size class or the normalized results based on the settings in the previous step are displayed. In this step you monitor the results of the settings for the approval rating: according to the definition in the standard template.
The results are rated as follows:

Particle counts exceeding the defined allowed number of particles per size class (=acceptance criterion) are rated as n.ok.
Particle counts below the defined allowed number of particles per size class (=acceptance criterion) are rated as ok.

Opening Standard Templates

It is not possible to change standard templates provided with the TCA software - this is indicated by a small lock icon. To modify it, create a copy and modify the copy.

The Manage Templates mode is selected.

Select the list entry Standards Technical Cleanliness using the Show drop-down list.
The template list shows the provided standard templates.
Right-click the desired template and select Copy & Edit. Alternatively, in the Toolbar, click the Copy & Edit icon:
The step Define Technical Cleanliness Standard opens, see Defining a Standard Template.

Defining a Standard Template

The Standard Template Editor is open.

Open step Define Technical Cleanliness Standard.
The following view is displayed.
Fill in data in the Standard Name field, Method Name field, and Year field.
In the Template is Based on Standard field it is displayed which standard your modified template is based on. This information is displayed in the Report.
The selected template is used in the respective job template for component or oil cleanliness.
The information is used for the template name in the order Standard name (year) method when saving the template.
The information is also used in the Technical Cleanliness Standard Selection tool. This tool is located in the first step of the job template.
The Type is preselected and depends on the application. The following types are available: Component Cleanliness and Oil Cleanliness.
Click Next.
The step Basic Template Settings opens, see Defining Basic Template Settings.

Define individual particle length and width size classes in the Center Screen Area if required, and select the desired acceptance criteria in the Workbench Area. The number of displayed columns is dependent on the settings in the workbench area.

In the Image Gallery, all particles are displayed by default from 5 µm length and width onwards. As a Supervisor, you can change the minimum size of the displayed particles in the Region Filter tool in the Region Filter workbench. By default, the Region Filter workbench is set to run silent, see Region Filter.

You have defined the basic template settings.

Open step Define Length Classes.
The following view is displayed.
Define the settings in the workbench area. Define the length or width classes. Select the Classification Parameter, if required.

You have the following options for length classification:
- Feret Max
- Length X
- Fiber Length
- ECD
Default value: Feret Max
Note that the selection of other classification parameter than the default parameter is only recommended for non-standard based analysis.
You have the following options for width classification:
- Feret Min
- Length Y
- ECD
- Max. Inscribed Circle
Default value: Feret Min
For more information on Length and Width Classification, see Measurement Parameters for Length and Width Classification.
Activate the Selection.

You have the following options:
- Activate Particle Height Measurement to show additional columns in the center area to define the particles of certain size classes to be considered for particle height measurement.
- Activate EDS Measurement with SEM (Correlative Workflow) for a correlative workflow. If activated, additional columns are shown in the Classes table to define the particles for EM/EDS analysis. For correlative LM/EM-EDS workflow, you operate in Free Mode and need to activate the S&F Find List tool, see Correlative Workflows.
Defined particles for EM/EDS measurement will appear in this list.
In the Operator for Size Classification section, define the handling at the class border limits for the particle size classification.
In the Acceptance Criterion section, activate Allowed Number of Particles for the definition of acceptance criteria based on the allowed maximum particle number per size class.

You have the following options:
- Absolute Count (absolute particle number)
- Normalized (N) (= absolute particle number/component number)
- Normalized (A) (= absolute particle number/wetted component area)*1000 [cm²]
- Normalized (V) (= absolute particle number/wetted component volume)*100 [cm³]
Select the Operator for Acceptance Criterion to define the handling at the class border limit for the definition of acceptance criteria.
Select the Allowed Number of Particles.

This function is only active, if in the Acceptance Criterion section Allowed Number of Particles is activated. Here, you define the allowed number of particles per type class and for "class all with or without fibers", see Type Classification for Class "All" Tool. You have the following options:
- Same Limit Value for all Types. Define one limit value for allowed particle numbers independent of the particle type. This limit value is also valid for "class all/with or without fiber". The defined values are the base for the approval rating displayed in the Size Distribution View.
- Individual Limit Value per Type. Define individual limit values for allowed particle numbers for each particle type. The limit value for allowed particle numbers in "class all/with or without fiber" is equal to the sum of the allowed particle numbers of the particle types. The defined values are the base for approval ratings displayed in the Size Distribution View.
Continue in the Classes table, see Defining Length and Width Classes (Center Screen Area)

Defining Length and Width Classes (Center Screen Area)

The predefined size classes are given by the corresponding standard.

You have defined the settings in the Workbench Area.

Proceed to the Center Screen Area and set your settings. Define individual acceptance criteria by the allowed number of particles per size class. Add limit values for the allowed number of particles per size class, see example below.
The result is displayed in the Size Distribution view, see Class Chart - Length Class Table. The result of the acceptance criteria is displayed in green color indicating particle counts are below the defined limit values; red color means that particle counts are above defined limit values.
Define particle size classes for height measurement of particles. Activate the size classes considered for particle height measurement, e.g., METALLIC SHINY and NON SHINY for component cleanliness standards, or PARTICLE for oil cleanliness standards.
The pre-selected particles are automatically marked in the gallery of the Size Distribution view of the job run. Additionally, you can mark or unmark desired particles manually in the Particle Gallery, see Particle Height Measurement.
Define a selection of particles automatically provided for EM/EDS analysis in a correlative workflow. Execute the TCA workflow as usual. For a correlative LM/EM-EDS workflow continue in Free Mode and load the S&F Find (List) tool to retrieve the particles for subsequent EDS analysis, For more information, see Correlative Workflows
By selection of a certain particle size class all particles belonging to this size class are added automatically to the archived EDS particle selection table.
Modify the particle size classification for the definition of individual company standards.
The red numbers indicate that the entered values are wrong. A tool tip informs you on the error.
To add a new row for defining the next particle size class, click the Add Class button. Add size class values and a name for this size class.
Click Next if you want to modify the size classes for width as well.
The Define Width Classes step is displayed.
Define the particle width classification in the same way as described before.
Click Next.
The step Define Approval Logic is displayed, see Defining the Approval Logic.

Measurement Parameters for Length and Width Classification

The following size classification parameters are available: The default value for length is Feret Max and the default value for the width is Feret Min.

Length X

Indicates the width (size in x-direction) of a bounding box for a region. The box is drawn in parallel to the x and y axis.

Formula: Length right - Length left
Unit: Unit of the scaling assigned to the image (e.g. μm)

Length Y

Indicates the height (size in y-direction) of a bounding box for a region. The box is drawn in parallel to the x and y axis.

Unit: Unit of the scaling assigned to the image (e.g. μm)
Formula: Length top - Length bottom

Defining the Approval Logic

The approval logic is based on definable conditions for particle length and width. Length and width are based on the definition of the measurement parameter in the steps Define Length Classes and Define Width Classes. Particles which exceed the defined size limits are colored in red. To filter them, click Filter NOK in the Scatter Plot of the Size Distribution View. All particles lying under the defined size limit are colored in green.

You have selected Particle Size in the Approval Rating, see Defining Basic Template Settings.

Open step Define Approval Logic.
The following view is displayed:
In the FOR TYPE drop down list, select the particle type. Add the condition, e.g., length or width, and use logical operations for defining the allowed size range. You can set further conditions using the + icon.
The displayed particles are indicated by red colored dots in the scatter plot of the Size Distribution view.
If desired, add a second approval definition. Click Add Condition to do so, and add a definition.
Multiple conditions within one row are linked by an AND operator. Further conditions in additional rows are linked by an OR operator.
All conditions are applied automatically and the result is presented in the Scatter Plot of the Size Distribution View.
Click Next.
You have adapted the standard to you needs.
The step Define Cleanliness Codes is displayed and read-only, see Cleanliness/Contamination Classification and Cleanliness/Contamination Codes.

Cleanliness/Contamination Classification

For each of the supported standards the corresponding cleanliness/contamination classes are shown and cannot be modified. Cleanliness/contamination classes allocate normalized particle numbers into cleanliness/contamination level. For more information on the supported standards, see Introduction to Standards.

1	Size Classes Displays the cleanliness/contamination level corresponding to normalized particle counts. Only valid for A, V.
2	Class Table Usage Identical Class Table for all Particle Size Classes: Applies one cleanliness code classification table to all particle size classes; Individual Class Tables for each Particle Size Class: Applies one individual cleanliness code classification table per particle size class, i.e. each particle size class has its own cleanliness classification table.
3	Operator for Cleanliness Classes Defines the handling of the class border limits.
4	Cleanliness Code Notation Options for displaying the cleanliness/contamination classification in the condensed one-line notation with class names or without class names. Example: CCC=1/2/3/4 or CCC=A1/B2/C3/D4. The latter example shows a notation in which the letter represents a certain particle size class and the number stands for the corresponding cleanliness/contamination level, indicating the detected and normalized number of particles which belong to this particle size class.

Cleanliness/Contamination Codes

CLEANLINESS LEVEL for component cleanliness
CONTAMINATION LEVEL for oil cleanliness

Displays the level and the corresponding range of normalized particle counts.

Lower Limit and Upper Limit

Defines the value range of the cleanliness classes.

Note: For NAS 1638 and SAE AS 4059 the cleanliness levels are not displayed in the Width Class tables of the Size Distribution view. This is indicated by n.a.

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Standard Template Editor