​Barcode Verifier Calibration Cards​

Calibration is a critical process for adjusting the reflectance levels of your verifier, establishing the darkest dark and lightest light values to accurately evaluate codes. Routine calibration with our NIST-traceable cards guarantees your system performs optimally and meets stringent industry standards.

Each card contains a photographically printed, serialized master symbol measured against a NIST-traceable system and is accompanied by a calibration certificate to ensure full traceability and compliance. 

One part of meeting ISO standards is confirming that your verification results are within an acceptable range, as listed in the ISO/IEC 15426-1 and ISO/IEC 15426-2 standards. That testing can only be completed by using a NIST-traceable conformance test calibration card, which has a calibration symbol as well as several other symbols with intentional errors. The card will list an overall grade and corresponding parameter grades for each symbol on the card.  

The ISO/IEC 15426 standards set an acceptable tolerance range for each quality parameter. Your verifier needs to be within those ranges for each parameter to be considered in conformance with the ISO standards. 

A standard calibration card is used to adjust the verifier's reflectance levels against a master symbol, which is  required ISO-compliant verification.  

A conformance calibration card includes both a standard calibration symbol and a series of intentionally imperfect barcodes. These out-of-spec symbols are used to test the verifier’s ability to correctly identify and grade defects, ensuring it conforms to ISO/IEC 15426 standards. 

Since the card has imperfect codes printed on it in addition to a calibration master symbol, it can be used as a quick way to double-check that the verifier is working properly. This is done by comparing actual verification results to the acceptable tolerances listed in the ISO/IEC 15426-1 or 15426-2 standard or using the Cognex-provided conformance test procedure.  

Some customers require that their calibration cards be produced by an ISO 17025 accredited laboratory, in which case we recommend DMV-AICC, DMV-DMCC, or DMV-DMCCG instead of DMV-CCC. Other companies have additional requirements specific to their processes or industry. 

Conformance testing validates that your verifier is in working order and generating the right results, ensuring conformance to ISO standard requirements. Your quality control policies, your industry’s application standard, or the barcode guidelines for your company will determine if conformance testing is necessary. For certain industries, such as medical device and pharmaceutical companies, conformance testing is required to prove that their equipment is functioning properly. 

For routine verification performance checks, companies will perform a conformance testing using a NIST-traceable conformance test calibration card to confirm verification results are within the acceptable tolerance range after calibration. 

Every company has its own policy on how often you should calibrate your verifiers. Cognex recommends you do it at least every 30 days. 

Calibration cards expire 2 years from the in-service date, not the manufactured date. Upon receipt of the calibration card, the date issued or the in-service date should be filled in on the card.  

Cards should be safely stored away from dust and direct sunlight when not in use. 

No, the same card can be used to calibrate and verify multiple barcode verifiers. 

No, the symbology doesn’t matter. The calibration process measures the verifier's imaging and lighting systems against a set reflectance value, not the specific code itself. This ensures that the verifier is set to a universal standard, allowing it to grade any 1D or 2D symbology with maximum accuracy.