Noncontact, magnetic positioning of inspection equipment

A method of inspecting a laser perforation being formed in a moving web of material during laser processing of the material, the method comprising:

• providing a laser processing system having a laser source for generating a laser beam and the laser processing system comprising a lens for focusing the laser beam and
• reflecting the laser beam onto the advancing web of material;
• providing inspection equipment comprising a first inspection device movably coupled to a housing of the laser source and positioned on a first side of the advancing web of material and second cooperative inspection device positioned on a second, opposing side of the advancing web of material such that the first inspection device and the second inspection device are aligned on opposing sides of the advancing web of material;
• directing a focal point of the laser beam to a selected location on the web to produce the perforations in the material along the advancing web of material;
• and
• inspecting the perforations at one or more locations on the advancing web of material while maintaining alignment between the first and second inspection device by way of magnetically coupling the spaced apart devices on opposing sides of the advancing web of material.