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From: henry@utzoo.UUCP
Newsgroups: comp.laser-printers
Subject: Re: Tolerances in the resolution of laser printers
Message-ID: <8806201720.AA01226@brillig.umd.edu>
Date: 7 Jun 88 01:53:45 GMT
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> I once measured a deviation of almost 3% in the resolution of a laser
> printer...the manufacturer put the blame on the crystal resposible for the
> sweep of the laser beam... crystals don't deviate in frequency that much...

It is indeed the crystal that is to blame, but in a more subtle way than
you think.  The problem is not that the crystal is off its assigned
frequency; the problem is that the assigned frequency is not quite the
right one for the printer!  Rather than get a custom crystal done to
exactly the right frequency, the manufacturer has settled for the nearest
standard crystal.  This is common.

				Henry Spencer @ U of Toronto Zoology
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