A plate flatness meter based on the laser moire method has been develo
ped. A large grating is installed above a plate transfer line, a laser
beam is directed through a concave lens onto the plate on the transfe
r line. Moire fringes that conform to the surface profile of the plate
are formed on the plate. The flatness of the plate as it is transferr
ed can be measured to a high accuracy of +/-1.0mm(2sigma).