geometry
with industrial ct scanning

Industrial CT scanning is a powerful technology that allows to inspect in multiple possibilities complex components and materials. Computed Tomography is an easy and efficient way to provide results based on a non-destructive approach and most important generate data to characterize internal features through the capability to reconstruct a complete 3D model.

Multiple applications can be performed with the use of CT scans, from traditional industrial analyses such as process defects detection samples (voids, cracks, porosities, inclusions) to metrology tasks as dimensional measurements of the external as well as the internal features of complex geometry, in quality control, research & development, production...

Metrology and measurement applications require a virtual segmentation of the resulting CT scan volume to separate the different components (materials, air, foam….) and create the surfaces. The 3D model permits a large range of measurements in most samples, including the most difficult ones that are not achievable by traditional measurement equipments as optical or tactile measurement tools.

Why choose tomography for your geometric inspections?

Exceptional accuracy: Resolution down to sub-micron for reliable measurements
Complete vision: Simultaneous inspection of the internal and external geometries of even complex parts
Non-destructive: Total preservation of your samples
Speed: A single scan for all your geometric checks

Geometry and measurments with CT scanning

Coordinate Measurement

Determination of component's geometries with an ultra-high accuracy in a single and fast scan

Industrial CT scanning has a growing number of industrial applications requiring dimensional metrology. The complexity and the variety of the products, combined with the request for cost and time-efficient solutions for production and product development, create new challenges in quality control.

Computed Tomography is a powerful non-destructive technique enabling the measurement and the characterization of internal and external structures of an object in the 3D volume to calculate various parameters on surfaces and features. Independently of the complexity of the shape and based on high-density 3D point clouds volumes generated by X-ray CT scans, any traditional measurements can be performed, including GD&T dimensional measurement and position tolerances such as parallelism, perpendicularity, concentricity…

Non-destructive and contact-free testing permits the inspection of multiple industrial components. Assuring micrometer accuracy in most cases, industrial CT scanning becomes an essential technology to qualify and inspect complex parts or assemblies.

Wall Thickness Analyses

Determination of material thickness

Wall thickness is one of many metrological challenges which must be addressed by industrial designers. Most of the industrial components, including pipes, bottles, medical pills, airfoils, and turbines blades are specified by wall thicknesses to ensure the expected mechanical strength and weight.

Measuring the material thickness on a 3D volume generated by an industrial CT scan is straightforward. Results are displayed using a color code, showing areas where the thickness exceeds the given tolerances and providing minimum, maximum, mean or standard deviation.

The wall thickness analysis completes the characterization of samples, providing an easy-to-read 3D colour map and cross-section wall thickness measurements.

Nominal to Actual Comparison

Comparison between CAD nominal and CT scanned data

A typical task carried out by X-Ray Computed Tomography scans is the nominal-actual comparison, visualizing geometric deviations between the data of a scanned workpiece and a CAD nominal model. A valuable comparison can be performed between the actual geometry, the CT volume, and a golden reference, the reference workpiece.

Deviations are displayed using a colour code providing a visual representation of the differences between parts. The nominal/actual comparison is an efficient and easy-to-use tool to qualify components and improve production processes, applicable in the multiple industries and applications, as injection moulding and 3D printing.

Tool & Component Optimization

Industrial computed tomography improves geometric control in all fields, from manufacturing to cutting-edge research. This versatile technology is equally suited to the inspection of a simple mechanical component or the analysis of more complex parts and assemblies.

Find out how two major industrial sectors are taking advantage of geometric CT inspection to optimize production and guarantee product quality.

Plastics industry: Avoid shrinkage and warpage in injection moulding

Molding processes always involve undesirable effects such as deformation, dimensional variations or shrinkage. X-ray tomography provides a complete analysis of your injection-molded parts, revealing their internal and external geometric characteristics. This comprehensive view enables you to precisely identify the sources of deformation and effectively optimize your molds and production parameters.

Concrete benefits of using tomography for injection molded part inspection:
Shorter development cycles
Optimization of molding parameters
Improved part quality
Reduced production scrap

Electronics industry: high-precision inspection of miniaturized components

The electronics industry demands ultra-precise geometric checks on increasingly miniaturized components and complex multi-layer assemblies. Traditional inspection methods are reaching their limits in the face of these technological challenges.

Tomography optimizes the inspection of electronic assemblies, simultaneously revealing internal defects and external anomalies invisible to other non-destructive techniques. This unique capability guarantees the reliability of the most critical components.

Checking and improving electronic components

Geometric measurements: dimensions, positioning, alignment
Detection of defects: faulty soldering, displaced components, faulty connectors
Analysis of structural integrity: cut wires, missing material, internal cracks
Validation of complex assemblies: multilayer circuits, sealed housings, micro-components

Development & Reverse Engineering

From the workpiece to its CAD model

Starting from a real object, a CT scan allows generating a point cloud of every samples's surface. A CAD file can then be created from these point cloud and easily get a three-dimensional virtual model based on a real part. The extracted surfaces can be exported in different formats (STL, WRL, TXT ...) and comptible with most CAD softwares.

Reverse engineering is particularly useful to reduce design life-cycle time of product development, allowing rapid prototyping of your component of competition analysis.

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geometry with industrial ct scanning