Abstract: A system and method for measuring the physical characteristics of a component where the system includes an electromagnetic radiation source defining a source optical path, the electromagnetic radiation source being operable to cause electromagnetic radiation to propagate along the source optical path, a sensing device defining a sensor optical path, a system support structure, a base structure, an electromagnetic radiation source mounting structure and a sensing device mounting structure, a positioning device including a positioning device stage, wherein the positioning device stage is movably disposed and a retention mount disposed on the positioning device stage, the retention mount being disposed within the sensor optical path such that when a component is retained within the retention mount, the component blocks at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation to generate a silhouette, wherein the sensing device generates data responsive to the silhouette.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an inspection system includes a movable collimated light source, a sensing device, a positioning device and a retention mount. The movable collimated light source defines a source optical path and is capable of causing a collimated light beam to propagate along the source optical path. The sensing device defines a sensor optical path. The positioning device includes a positioning device stage that is movably disposed relative to the positioning device, sensing device and movable collimated light source. The retention mount is non-movably disposed on the positioning device stage and disposed within the sensor optical path such that when an item is retained within the retention mount, the item blocks at least a portion of the collimated light beam.

Abstract: A method for implementing a component positioning device is provided and includes obtaining a component, a component measuring device and a component positioning device, the component including a component head and a component base, the component measuring device including a first arbor and a second arbor and the component positioning device including a first support device, a second support device and an adapter device, connecting the first support device and the adapter device to the component measuring device, wherein the first support device is associated with the first arbor and the adapter device is associated with the second arbor, associating the second support device with the adapter device, wherein the second support device is adjacent to and separated from the first support device by a component cavity and positioning the component within the component cavity.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an inspection system for measuring at least a portion of the threaded surface of an internally threaded component includes at least one measuring probe, a component retention device that allows positioning of the internally threaded component relative to the measuring probe and a processing device in signal communication with the measuring probe to receive threaded surface data therefrom.

Abstract: In some embodiments, an inspection system includes a collimated light source defining a source optical path and useful to cause a collimated light beam to propagate along the source optical path and a sensing device defining a sensor optical path. A positioning device includes a positioning device stage movably disposed relative to the positioning device, sensing device and collimated light source. A retention mount is disposed on the positioning device stage and within the sensor optical path such that when an object is retained within the retention mount, the object blocks at least a portion of the collimated light beam.

Abstract: A method for measuring the physical characteristics of a component includes associating a component with the system such that the component is positioned within the retention mount and operating the system to cause the light source to emit a collimated light beam along a source optical path, where the collimated light beam is reflected to cause a reflected collimated light beam to propagate along a sensor optical path to be incident upon the component to produce a component silhouette where the sensing device generates data responsive to the silhouette. The image data is processed to generate resultant data responsive to the component, wherein the resultant data is further responsive to at least one of a smoothing algorithm, a functional size algorithm and a centering algorithm.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the physical characteristics of a component where the system includes an electromagnetic radiation source defining a source optical path, the electromagnetic radiation source being operable to cause electromagnetic radiation to propagate along the source optical path, a sensing device defining a sensor optical path, a system support structure, a base structure, an electromagnetic radiation source mounting structure and a sensing device mounting structure, a positioning device including a positioning device stage, wherein the positioning device stage is movably disposed and a retention mount disposed on the positioning device stage, the retention mount being disposed within the sensor optical path such that when a component is retained within the retention mount, the component blocks at least a portion of the electromagnetic radiation to generate a silhouette, wherein the sensing device generates data responsive to the silhouette.

Abstract: An inspection system and a method for measuring physical characteristics of a component using the inspection system is provided, wherein the inspection system includes a light source, a sensing device and a retention mount, at least one of which is movably associated with the inspection system. The method includes associating a component with the inspection system such that the component is disposed within the retention mount, operating the inspection system to cause the light source to emit a collimated light beam propagating along a source optical path such that the collimated light beam is incident upon the component to produce a component silhouette which is incident upon the sensing device, generating image data responsive to the component silhouette and processing the image data to generate resultant data including at least one of a plurality of physical characteristics of the component.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the physical characteristics of an object is provided, wherein the method includes disposing the object within the sensor optical path of an inspection system, causing a source collimated light beam to propagate along the source optical path to be at least partially incident upon the reflecting device, reflecting the source collimated light beam to create a reflected collimated light beam that propagates along the sensor optical path such that the reflected collimated light beam is at least partially incident upon the object to produce a silhouette, wherein at least a portion of the silhouette is incident upon the sensing device to generate initial image data responsive to the silhouette and processing the initial image data responsive to at least one predetermined algorithm to generate resultant image data responsive to at least one of a plurality of physical characteristics of the object.

Abstract: An inspection system and a method for measuring physical characteristics of a component using the inspection system is provided, wherein the inspection system includes a light source, a sensing device, a reflecting device, and a retention mount, at least one of which is movably associated with the inspection system. The method includes associating a component with the inspection system, operating the inspection system to cause the light source to emit a collimated light beam propagating along a source optical path, reflecting the collimated light beam via the reflecting device to cause a reflected collimated light beam to be incident upon the component to produce a component silhouette which is incident upon the sensing device, generating image data responsive to the component silhouette and processing the image data to generate resultant data comprising at least one of a plurality of physical characteristics of the component.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the physical characteristics of an object is provided, wherein the method includes disposing the object within the sensor optical path of an inspection system, causing a source collimated light beam to propagate along the source optical path to be at least partially incident upon the reflecting device, reflecting the source collimated light beam to create a reflected collimated light beam that propagates along the sensor optical path such that the reflected collimated light beam is at least partially incident upon the object to produce a silhouette, wherein at least a portion of the silhouette is incident upon the sensing device to generate initial image data responsive to the silhouette and processing the initial image data responsive to at least one predetermined algorithm to generate resultant image data responsive to at least one of a plurality of physical characteristics of the object.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the threaded surface of an internally threaded component is provided, where the inspection system includes at least one measuring probe, wherein the at least one measuring probe includes an emitter and a receiver and is sized and shaped to be positionable adjacent at least a portion of the threaded surface at an offset distance, wherein the emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic energy that is incident upon the threaded surface to generate reflected electromagnetic energy responsive to the threaded surface and wherein the receiver is configured to receive at least a portion of the reflected electromagnetic energy and generate threaded surface data. A processing device is also provided, wherein the processing device is in signal communication with the measuring probe to receive the threaded surface data and process the threaded surface data to determine physical characteristics of the threaded surface.

Abstract: A system and method for measuring the physical characteristics of a component where the system includes a light source, a sensing device, a reflecting device, and a retention mount. The method includes associating a component with the system such that the component is positioned within the retention mount and operating the system to cause the light source to emit a collimated light beam along a source optical path, where the collimated light beam is reflected to cause a reflected collimated light beam to propagate along a sensor optical path to be incident upon the component to produce a component silhouette where the sensing device generates data responsive to the silhouette. The image data is processed to generate resultant data responsive to the component, wherein the resultant data is further responsive to at least one of a smoothing algorithm, a functional size algorithm and a centering algorithm.

Abstract: An inspection system and a method for using the inspection system, wherein the inspection system includes a collimated light source defining a source optical path, the collimated light source being operable to cause a collimated light beam to propagate along the source optical path, a sensing device defining a sensor optical path, the sensor optical path being substantially perpendicular to the source optical path, a reflecting device disposed within the source optical path to receive the collimated light beam, the reflecting device causing a reflected collimated light beam to propagate along the sensor optical path to the sensing device and a retention mount, the retention mount being disposed within the sensor optical path such that when a component is retained within the retention mount, the component blocks at least a portion of the reflected collimated light beam.

Abstract: A component positioning device including a first support device, the first support device having a first upper structure and a first lower structure, the first upper structure including a first inner wall disposed at a first predetermined angle and defining a first component structure, and the first lower structure defining a first arbor cavity and a first fastening cavity, the first fastening cavity being communicated with the first arbor cavity. A second support device is provided having a second upper structure and a second lower structure, the second upper structure including a second inner wall disposed at a second predetermined angle and defining a second component structure, and the second lower structure defining a second arbor cavity and including at least one protruding member and an adapter device having an adapter wall, wherein the adapter wall defines an adapter cavity, an adapter fastening cavity and an adapter notch cavity.

Abstract: An inspection system and a method for using the inspection system, wherein the inspection system includes a collimated light source defining a source optical path, the collimated light source being operable to cause a collimated light beam to propagate along the source optical path, a sensing device defining a sensor optical path, the sensor optical path being substantially perpendicular to the source optical path, a reflecting device disposed within the source optical path to receive the collimated light beam, the reflecting device causing a reflected collimated light beam to propagate along the sensor optical path to the sensing device and a retention mount, the retention mount being disposed within the sensor optical path such that when a component is retained within the retention mount, the component blocks at least a portion of the reflected collimated light beam.