Abstract

Honda et al.¹ have described the use of a holographic optical element (HOE) for the rapid inspection of the shape errors of gear surfaces. In their system laser light reflected specularly from the gear and was then modified to a converging spherical wavefront by the HOE. The resulting point of light passed through a pinhole in front of an optical detector. We have completed gear-surface experiments in which the HOE receives both specular and diffuse scattered light, and the measurements are made in a continuous-rotation mode. The data suggest that the continuous-rotation mode permits specular and diffuse light to be distinguished. This in turn suggests that both average surface profile and surface texture may be monitored by one experimental configuration. Experiments are in progress on hemispherical hydraulic-pump piston heads.

© 1988 Optical Society of America