Small Optical Comparator; Magnetic Testing Equipment - Xerox 6100BD - Phaser Color Laser Printer Fundamentals

Small Optical Comparator

Measures character-to-character spacing

Magnetic testing equipment

Generic MICR Fundamentals Guide
The Small Optical Comparator also compares the MICR printing
to industry standards (see the following figure). Its main
difference from the MICR Gauge is that the Comparator's
nominal 8x to 12x magnification and built-in measuring scales
enable you to measure printing characteristics that require
greater precision.
Measures character size
Figure 6-2. Small Optical Comparator
Each MICR symbol and character has an ideal waveform and
nominal signal strength. Every MICR printing technology
modifies the waveform from the ideal in a different way, so that
the nominal MICR signal varies somewhat among the characters
and symbols. These are characteristics of the printing
technology and font design, and cannot be adjusted in Xerox
MICR printers. For this reason, the signal strength of the On-Us
symbol is used as the Xerox reference for the entire MICR line.
Quality control
Measures character-to-character
vertical variation: measures skew
Measures
spots and
deletions
6-3