Internal inspection system and method

A method for measuring the threaded surface of an internally threaded component using an inspection system, wherein the inspection system includes a measuring probe having an emitter and a receiver and is sized and shaped to be positionably adjacent at least a portion of the threaded surface at an offset distance, wherein the emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic energy 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, the method comprising:

• associating the internally threaded component with the inspection system via an electromagnetic;
• positioning the measuring probe inside a cavity of the internally threaded component;
• deactivating said electromagnet to cause the internally threaded component to be positioned relative to measuring probe such that an offset distance exists between the measuring probe and the threaded surface;
• activating said electromagnet to securely re-associate the internally threaded component with the inspection system;
• operating the inspection system to cause the measuring probe to measure at least a portion of the threaded surface and to generate initial threaded surface data;
• and
• processing said threaded surface data to generate physical characteristics of said at least a portion of the threaded surface.

A computer-readable storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code, the program code including instructions for causing a controller to implement a method for measuring the threaded surface of an internally threaded component using an inspection system, wherein the inspection system includes a measuring probe having an emitter and a receiver and is sized and shaped to be positionably adjacent at least a portion of the threaded surface at an offset distance, wherein the emitter is configured to emit electromagnetic energy 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, the method comprising:

• associating the internally threaded component with the inspection system via an electromagnetic;
• positioning the measuring probe inside a cavity of the internally threaded component;
• deactivating said electromagnet to cause the internally threaded component to be positioned relative to measuring probe such that an offset distance exists between the measuring probe and the threaded surface;
• activating said electromagnet to securely re-associate the internally threaded component with the inspection system;
• operating the inspection system to cause the measuring probe to measure at least a portion of the threaded surface and to generate initial threaded surface data;
• and processing said threaded surface data to generate physical characteristics of said at least a portion of the threaded surface.