Shaft runout inspection by a fiber optic displacement sensor

A reflective fiber optic displacement sensor has been developed and calibrated to gauge form and axis position of shafts during rotation. A technique has been implemented to determine the deviation of the actual shaft form from its nominal circular cross section (the off-round error) and the departure of the rotation axis from the geometric axis (the eccentric error). The sensor is simple, has acceptable accuracy for applications to mechanical engineering, is capable of monitoring shafts during rotation, and has potential for gauging parts on the production line.