EdgeMCE.spt is typically used to map the focus SUM and Error signals at the edge of the plate over a range of carriage positions, but at a fixed drum position. It can be desirable to observe the edge of the plate for excessive plate curl and or SUM signal roll off at the edge.
This script is supplied by the Thermal 2 group.

When to run this script:

Instructions:

  1. Have the desired plate for observation mounted and know your carriage positions for the start and end of mapping.
  2. Decide on the desired resolution.
    Note:Typically, and for the case when you are going to map what the edge detect sequence would "see", you should do an "edge test" first to set and hold the drum position. The script will ask if you want to move the drum or leave it where it is. However, you must then set up the focus relfectivity yourself because the head will have been set for the edge detect reflectivity which is different than for regular operation (use th2 "foc relfect 0.12", for example). The script will do the rest.
  3. Observe the output graphs for the results. Note the plate edge in the enclosed examples changes about 15 microns in 2 mm. This is very typical (we have seen 40 microns in 2 mm) and by far exceeds the depth of focus of the write optics over one swath width. The SUM signal for the enclosed example is pretty good right to the plate edge. Sometimes the SUM signal rolls off at the plate edge which in turn can cause the edge detect signal to delay triggering (example 3). The two examples are the same place on the same plate, but different sampling resolutions and overall coverage
    4. Example Graph 1. Sampling every 0.25mm
    Example Graph 2. Sampling every 0.05mm
    Example Graph 3. Bad plate with SUM signal roll off at the edge. Sampling 0.5mm
    Last modified: 26 May 2003