A METHOD FOR ON-LINE INSPECTION OF EXTRUDED PROFILES HAS BEEN DEVELOPED. A STRUCTURED LIGHT TECHNIQUE ENABLES THE EXTRACTION OF MEASUREMENT POINTS ACROSS THE PROFILE. TO ACHIEVE THE REQUIRED ACCURACY OF PLUS OR MINUS 2.54 IN. (0.1MM), SPECIFIC PROBLEM AREAS HAVE BEEN ADDRESSED SUCH AS CALIBRATION OF OPTICAL DISTORTION, VIDEO SIGNAL SYNCHRONIZATION, STRUCTURED LIGHT PROJECTION, AND SUB-PIXEL CALCULATION TECHNIQUES. THE PROFILE INSPECTION PARAMETERS ARE TAKEN FROM A CAD-GENERATED MODEL, WHICH PROVIDES GREAT FLEXIBILITY AND ALLOWS INSPECTION OF A WIDE RANGE OF PROFILES. THE SYSTEM IS BEING DEVELOPED TO INSPECT ALUMINIUM PROFILES BUT MAY ALSO BE ADAPTED FOR RUBBER AND PLASTIC EXTRUSIONS. THE FIRST ON-SITE TRIALS ARE EXPECTED TO TAKE PLACE LATER THIS YEAR.