Atlantic applied research corporation has been developing a very high accuracy laser surface shape measurement system. It currently has the ability to scan a measurement laser beam in one dimension and measure the position of the surface of almost any object it strikes relative to a reference plan. Assuming that the AARC system is a competitive technology it would be adapted so that the laser beam would be directed at a stationary or rotating journal bearings. It could measure for example, diameter, fillet radii and surface defects. Computer programs would be developed to acquire, plot, and store the shape data. Measurements of high temperature parts would not be a problem, since the speed of light is not significantly effected by hot gas. The scanning system, including the light sources and receiving photo detector would be located about one foot (or more) from the bearing or shaft. It would operate by gathering modulated laser light reflected off of the part and measuring the phase shift of this light relative to an internal reperenceusing a proprietary high accuracy phase measurement system developed by AARC. A search of the field of non-contact gauging technologies would be initiated at the start of the program to determine the best available technologies for application in the machine stop environment.
