Byers 5500XP Micro Modifier PCB Image Modification System w/ Olite AL 9

Byers 5500XP Micro Modifier PCB Image Modification System w/ Olite AL 9

The Byers 5500XP Micro Modifier is a precision PCB artwork image modification system designed for use in printed circuit board production and quality control. It allows circuit image enhancement and alteration directly on photographic films — including solder mask films, ground and power plane images — without requiring re-plotting. The system achieves positioning accuracy to 0.0001 inches via a motor-driven carriage with a precision dial indicator.

Specifications & What's Included

• Main unit: Byers 5500XP Micro Modifier — motor-driven registration/image modification table
• Positioning accuracy: 0.0001 in, verified by mounted dial indicator (0.001mm resolution)
• Motor control panel: Power ON/OFF rocker switch with fuse holder; Motor ON/OFF rocker switch with JOG pushbutton
• Work surface: Large red registration table with printed format guides for film sizes from 20×25cm to 24×33 in
• Two (2) Olite AL 9 self-contained metal halide light sources
• Lamp: L 900 metal halide, optimized for graphic arts films, Diazo materials (410nm), and Photopolymer materials (370nm)
• Power: 120VAC, 60Hz, 9A; Made in USA
• Rear connections: Safety Interlock jack, Photocell port, Control port, AC inlet
• Olite AL 1CX point light source
• Quartz lamp with 1–10 intensity rotary control
• Cylindrical lamp head with baffle and standard 3-square filter holder
• Recommended for use with PA 82 photocell box
• Olec AI 121 (included)
• Lamp housing output: 150 watts, 120VAC

Applications

The Byers 5500XP Micro Modifier was a production-floor and QC tool used in PCB photographic artwork departments during the era when film-based PCB production was standard — roughly the 1980s through mid-1990s. Before CAD-direct-to-plate and laser photoplotters became dominant, PCB manufacturers maintained large film libraries and relied on image modification systems like this one to compensate for production losses, reduce artwork touch-up time, and generate solder mask and power/ground plane films from master artwork without re-shooting. The system's metal halide light sources (Olite AL 9) provided broad-spectrum UV output suited to the range of Diazo, photopolymer, and graphic arts films in common use. The point light source (Olite AL 1CX) enabled high-resolution work requiring a minimal-diameter light source for shadow-free imaging. This class of equipment was found in PCB prototyping shops, in-house PCB manufacturing departments, and reprographic service bureaus serving the electronics industry.