Diffraction method for measuring thickness of a workpart

1. A method for measuring the thickness of a workpart, said method comprising the steps of:

forming an aperture having at least one side thereof established by the workpart;

passing a light beam through the aperture to create a light diffraction pattern on the far side of the workpart;

capturing the diffraction pattern; and

measuring the captured diffraction pattern to determine the thickness of the workpart, wherein the measure of the diffraction pattern is indicative of the workpart thickness.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1 further including the step of forming the workpart as a composite construction comprising a top material layer residing on a substrate.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2 including forming the top layer as a coating on the substrate.

4. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein the top layer is formed in a powder coating operation.

5. The method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said step of forming an aperture includes simultaneously forming a opening through the substrate and the top material layer.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of passing a light beam includes generating coherent light.

7. The method as set forth in claim 6 wherein said step of generating coherent light includes energizing a laser device.

8. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of forming an aperture includes forming a non-circular hole.

9. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said measuring step includes analyzing the diffraction pattern with a device that receives, processes and presents data.

10. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of capturing the diffraction pattern includes positioning a CCD camera in the path of light passing through the aperture.

11. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of forming an aperture includes bounding all sides of the aperture with solid material.

12. The method as set forth in claim 1 wherein said step of forming an aperture includes positioning a reference plate adjacent edge of the workpart.

13. A method for measuring the thickness of a workpart, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a test piece of known thickness;

forming an aperture having at least one side thereof established by the test piece;

passing a light beam through the aperture to create a light diffraction pattern on the far side of the test piece;

capturing the diffraction pattern;

storing the captured diffraction pattern as a reference diffraction pattern; associating the referenced diffraction pattern with the known thickness of the test piece;

forming an aperture having at least one side thereof established by the workpart of unknown thickness;

passing a light beam through the aperture of the workpart to create a light diffraction pattern on the far side of the workpart;

capturing the diffraction pattern; and

comparing the captured diffraction pattern from the workpart to the referenced diffraction pattern to determine whether the thickness of the workpart is equal to the known thickness of the test piece.

14. The method as set forth in claim 13 further including the step of forming the workpart as a composite comprising a top material layer residing over a substrate.

15. The method as set forth in claim 14 wherein said step of forming an aperture in the workpart includes simultaneously forming an opening through the substrate and the top material layer.

16. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of passing a light beam includes generating coherent light.

17. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of forming an aperture in the workpart includes forming a non-circular opening.

18. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of capturing the diffraction pattern includes positioning a CCD camera in the path of light passing through the aperture.

19. The method as set forth in claim 13 wherein said step of forming an aperture in the workpart includes positioning a reference plate adjacent edge of the workpart.

20. A method of inspecting the thickness of a plurality of workparts traveling in a predetermined path, comprising the steps of:

conveying a plurality of workparts along a predetermined path, wherein the workparts are of unknown thickness;

directing a light beam at the workparts so that the light beam passes through an aperture having at least one side thereof established by each workpart to project a distinctive light diffraction pattern for each workpart on the far side of the workpart;

capturing the diffraction pattern; and

measuring the captured diffraction pattern to determine the thickness of the workpart, wherein the diffraction pattern is indicative of the workpart thickness.

21. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said measuring step includes comparing the captured diffraction pattern from each workpart to a referenced diffraction pattern associated with a known workpart thickness.

22. The method as set forth in claim 20 further including the step of forming the workpart as a composite having a top material layer applied to a substrate.

23. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of directing a light beam includes generating coherent light.

24. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of directing a light beam includes maintaining the beam of light in a consistent path while the workparts are conveyed there past.

25. The method as set forth in claim 20 wherein said step of capturing the diffraction pattern includes positioning a CCD camera in the path of light passing through the respective apertures.

26. The method as set forth in claim 20 further including the step of diverting a workpart away from the predetermined path if its measured thickness deviates from an acceptable range.

27. The method as set forth in claim 20 further including the step of conveying includes moving the workparts past a reference plate such that an aperture is formed between the reference plate and each passing workpart.