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Paper tape strip
As the tape runs, a black dot will be printed on the tape for each beat of the watch. The
position of the dot depends on the rate and beat error of the watch. If the watch is fast,
the lines will wander off the top of the tape. If the watch is slow, the lines will wander off
the bottom. If the watch is running at exactly the correct rate, the lines will be straight.
After 100 beats, MicroSet will print the current rate of the watch at the top of the tape. In
this example, it printed “+25 Sec”, which means the watch is 25 seconds per day fast.
In the strip above, there are two lines. This is because the watch is not in perfect beat.
The difference between these two times is the “beat error”. Larger beat errors appear
as more separation between the two lines. Every 100 beats MicroSet prints the last
beat error at the top of the tape, after the current rate. In this example, the beat error
was 6.6 milliseconds.
If you do not see two clean rows of dots like the sample shown, your watch may be very
dirty or the level may not be set correctly. Start with the level control of MicroSet set
to maximum. Adjust it downward if you don’t get clean results. It will also help to use a
good watch sensor.
While the tape is running you can rotate the watch to different positions to evaluate the
effect. It is beyond the scope of these instructions to teach you how to read the many
possible variations in the printed pattern, and what they all mean. Much has been written
on this subject, and many people have learned how to read the output of Vibrograph,
Tickoprint, and WatchMaster timers. A listing of several common faults and the tapes
they produce can be seen at the end of these instructions.
There are several controls on the paper tape display that exceed the abilities of the
original paper tape timers. MicroSet will allow you to magnify the beat error to see finer
detail. To do this, press the PLUS button while MicroSet is printing a tape. The LCD
screen will say:
Paper tape: 2x
and the printed tape will be magnified two times. The beat error will appear twice as
large in the pattern of dots, but the value printed at the tape edge will be correct. You
can press the PLUS button again for a scale of “4x”, and a third time for a scale of “8x”.
To return to lesser magnifications, press the MINUS key. The LCD screen will always
tell you what magnification is in use.
