Inspection system for turbine rotors

A rotor comprising:

• a plurality of features formed on and extending from an exposed surface;
• and
• an inspection system comprising:
• at least one transmitter probe positioned on the exposed surface and adjacent the plurality of features, the at least one transmitter probe configured to transmit energy;
• at least one receiver probe positioned on the exposed surface and separated from the at least one transmitter probe by the plurality of features, the at least one receiver probe configured to receive the energy transmitted by the at least one transmitter probe;
• and
• a probe alignment system in communication with the at least one transmitter probe and the at least one receiver probe, the probe alignment system configured to:
• analyze an energy characteristic for the ultrasonic energy received by the at least one receiver probe to determine if a displacement characteristic for at least one of the at least one transmitter probe and the at least one receiver probe requires adjustment.

A method for aligning inspection probes, the method comprising:

• moving a first ultrasonic probe along a surface of a component, the first ultrasonic probe configured to transmit energy;
• moving a second ultrasonic probe along the surface of the component, the second ultrasonic probe configured to receive the energy transmitted by the first ultrasonic probe;
• analyzing an energy characteristic for the energy received by the second ultrasonic probe;
• and
• adjusting a displacement characteristic for at least one of the first ultrasonic probe and the second ultrasonic probe based on the analyzed energy characteristic.