Sizing up the Digital Optical Comparator
A digital optical comparator uses a CAD file instead of a template or overlay film. More importantly, the digital comparator not only measures dimensions, but it also actively compares the measurements with nominal values, thus making it truly a gage for accepting or rejecting a part.
By magnifying the image of a workpiece and projecting that image against a template that magnifies a profile of the part’s design, the traditional optical comparator magnifies the ability of the human eye to detect critical deviations. Mismatches between the projected workpiece image and the template make these deviations more obvious, enabling the user to judge whether the workpiece is acceptable.
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