Abstract: An automated, optical-mechanical apparatus includes a laser, a series of lenses for focusing a measuring beam generated by the laser to a precise focal distance and dispersion angle, a lead screw for linearly translating the beam and a spindle for aligning the optical discs to be scanned and counted. The beam is focused to the edge of the stacked discs and propagates through the gaps between adjacent discs to an optical detectors where the beam is transformed to an electronic waveform, which is interpreted by a digital counting network. Counting accuracy is not dependent upon precise control of manufacturing variations in the thickness and weight of the discs.