A device for monitoring wear in a component, including a radio frequency
identification chip attached with the component and a sensor configured
to monitor wear of the component, the sensor being in communication with
the radio frequency identification chip. The sensor may be embedded
within the component and may include a plurality of circuits of varying
lengths to measure different stages of wear. The monitoring device may be
employed in a roller, such as the fuser roller in a printing apparatus.
The roller may be constructed from a multiplicity of non-conductive
layers in which portions of the layers are doped with a conductive
material to form the plurality of circuits for sensing wear. The
monitoring device may also be employed in a belt for use in a printing
apparatus. A printing apparatus may also employ a roller or belt equipped
with the monitoring device along with a control system for periodically
reading the chip and collecting the wear data.