The PrintSim emulation software will allow for “real-world office testing within an engineering lab setting”.
The company stated that “better testing means better quality”, with the software devised “for its manufacturing and testing process”. The proprietary software comes as the “most common industry testing practice has been to test sub assemblies and components under evaluation in a straight 50,000 to 200,000 page print life cycle”. However, Metrofuser states this has “never represented how American end-users print in a real-world setting”.
PrintSim is said to allow Metrofuser’s engineers to “emulate the real-world printing performed by end-users”, with the example of a hospital’s laser printer sitting “idle for 30 minutes” and then running “single page prints for the next 60 minutes” before sitting idle again. The software “torture tests” fusers, rollers, paper-handling devices and logic boards with this on/off process, and offers users “infinite control” in terms of “throttl[ing] the time between print jobs” up and down.
In turn, it also “most importantly” gives engineers the “flexibility of changing between the types of print jobs”, with test prints able to jump between both text and “detailed graphics”, as well as “in any combination”, which Metrofuser states “all adds up to more accurate testing which improves quality for the end-fuser”. The technology will be used “across all product lines”, and is said by the company to represent “a continued commitment to invest in research and development”.
Will DeMuth, COO of Metrofuser, commented: “Reliable parts solutions are in high demand. Our customers require the most precise imaging technology in this demanding market, and our research and development team has devised a solution for testing parts. Metrofuser’s priority is to develop best-in-class repair and remanufacturing procedures along with rigid performance testing that enables us to deliver replacement parts that are unequalled in reliability and quality.”