Fuel assembly grid inspection apparatus and method

A fuel assembly grid inspection apparatus (10) includes a precision noncontact measurement device (12) having a source of illumination (32) and a viewing system (30) which define an inspection field of view. The viewing system is adapted to view and record one or more images of an object, such as a fuel assembly grid (16), located in the field of view, to provide information from which actual measurements of the grid can be calculated to determine whether or not it comes within acceptable tolerances of the measurements of a standard grid of the same design. The apparatus (10) includes a universal fixture (14) adapted to support any one of a variety of grids (16) of different design within the field of view, wherein the viewing system (30) and the fixture (14) are movable relative to each other in X, Y and Z directions for achieving a complete inspection of all parts of the grid (16).