Patent ID: 8395378

Claim:
A method of inspecting a component having at least one slot on a perimeter thereof, the method comprising the steps of: mounting a probe assembly to a robotic apparatus, the probe assembly comprising a holder assembly to which a probe tip is mounted, an eddy current coil within the probe tip and adjacent a first face thereof, a touch probe contact located at a second face of the probe tip, means for enabling relative movement between the probe tip and the holder assembly, and means for biasing the probe tip relative to the holder assembly in a direction parallel to the movement enabled by the enabling means; placing the eddy current probe tip of the probe assembly into the slot; and causing the first face of the probe tip to contact and travel along the surface of the slot and causing the eddy current coil to electromagnetically inspect the slot for cracks in the surface thereof, the biasing means and the enabling means maintaining the first face of the probe tip in contact with the surface of the slot as the probe tip travels through the slot; wherein the touch probe contact is electrically insulated from the probe tip and is electrically coupled to a connector on the holder assembly, and during the causing step contact between the touch probe contact and the surface of the slot results in electrical grounding and uploading the position of the probe tip to the robotic apparatus for enabling continuous adjustments of the position of the probe tip within the slot.