Patent ID: 8054460
Filing Date: 2011-11-08
Classification: G01N

Abstract:
1. An imaging system for imaging a threaded bore in a part, said imaging system comprising: a moveable table on which the part is mounted; a tool-holder mounted relative to the table; a camera mounted to the tool-holder; a probe mounted to the tool-holder; an optical assembly mounted to an end of the probe opposite to the tool-holder; and a controller for controlling the operation of the camera, the tool-holder and the table so that the optical assembly is inserted into the threaded bore in the part to take images of the threaded bore, said camera receiving signals from the optical assembly and providing images of the threaded bore, said controller receiving the images from the camera and converting the images to elongated image slices that are joined together to form a complete image of the bore including a thread line representing threads in the bore, said controller identifying a start location of the threads and/or the profile in the threaded bore.