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How will X-Ray Computed Tomography help your business?

by Paul on 06 Nov 2023 at 13h59

Investigating the inner structures of a solid part, a prototype, a component or a production part may seem complex, but thanks to ,industrial X-ray computed tomography, it is now possible to scan the interior of parts, samples and materials in a non-destructive way in just a few minutes.

This technology offers a significant advantage, and can also be your go-to tool throughout the product life cycle, from R&D to potential after-sales service, via quality control, inspection, defect detection or even dimensional metrology.
 
 
metal part analysis by tomography
metal part seen by x-ray

what is industrial ct tomography ?

Making hidden things visible. That's how the idea behind X-ray tomography could be summed up.
 
Tomography is an industrial technology that represents a major breakthrough in the field of non-destructive inspection, offering a revolutionary perspective on the analysis of parts. This technology uses X-rays to produce detailed cross-sectional images of an object. Unlike traditional inspection methods, industrial tomography enables three-dimensional visualisation, providing an in-depth understanding of the internal structure of materials. This is particularly important in sectors such as manufacturing, aerospace, medical and electronics, where early detection of defects or anomalies can have a significant impact on product quality and safety.
 
As a non-destructive method, industrial tomography inspection enables samples to be analyzed without compromising their integrity, offering a valuable solution for quality assurance and production process control. Its wide application in fields as varied as scientific research, quality control and preventive maintenance makes it an essential technology for companies at the leading edge of innovation and industrial excellence.
 
For a better understanding of how a tomograph works, we will explain everything to you in our article "How to use industrial X-ray tomography equipment?"  
explanation of how a tomograph works

PROJECT PHASES WHERE X-RAY TOMOGRAPHY CAN HELP YOU:

Pre-production - R&D

Helps with the process of product design thanks to the analysis of 3D generated data. Tomography enables you to check the material integrity of various materials that may be used in the design of your new product. It also reduces the number of iterations required, as well as the number of prototypes to be produced, because it is a non-destructive test.

Production

Allows you to conduct quality control of parts, metrological checks with dimensional measurements, quantify porosities, etc., in order to assess the consistency and repeatability of parts during the manufacturing process and improve product quality throughout its life cycle.
 

Reverse engineering

Inspects measurements and makes it possible to produce a replica of an existing product when its design and manufacturing data are not available. Many industries use retro-engineering for their own parts, often older parts for which there is no CAD file, or to study competitor parts, for example.

Non-contact measurement

Non-destructive and non-contact, this technology can be used to inspect a wide range of industrial components. With micron-level accuracy, tomography is becoming an essential technique for qualifying and inspecting complex parts and/or assemblies.
 

Contact measurement

Captures single points that are relative to one another in order to analyze localized or small volumes

 SECTORS USING INDUSTRIAL TOMOGRAPHY:

 
A wide range of industries such as automotive & aerospace, metal casting, arts, plastic industry… are using the technology of X-Ray Computed Tomography with a common goal: improving their productivity thanks to the possibility of performing high level investigation and accuracy of parts.
 

Automotive

The automotive sector produces millions of parts every year, from small components to the largest parts. Many processes are already in place, but the integration of X-ray tomography completes and opens up the field of possibilities for non-destructive quality control. In an automation production environment, X-ray tomography helps to ensure that high standards of precision and quality are maintained, ensuring compliance with virtual models and enhancing vehicle safety.

E-Mobility

The e-mobility industry (electric vehicles, electric bikes, e-scooters, etc.) is booming. More and more people are adopting the so-called “soft mobility”. And to keep pace, battery manufacturers have to adapt. Checking the inside of a battery without destroying is impossible, so X-ray tomography provides a solution by ensuring that every component is checked and analyzed in depth.

Aerospace

Performance, reliability, innovation, high standards - that's how the aerospace, aeronautics, and defense sectors can be summed up. Every single component has to be inspected, from every angle, and being able to do this non-destructively with a CT scan means that inspection processes are faster, safer and more efficient.

Additive manufacturing

From the powder to the final part, everything can be inspected by tomography in additive manufacturing. While 3D printing has long been a technology for prototyping and very small production runs, the technology, machines, and materials are constantly being developed to become a production technology in its own right. A common challenge with layer-by-layer 3D printed components is the lack of repeatability and reproducibility in the manufacturing process. It is therefore crucial to be able to inspect both the internal and external aspects of the structure.

Automotive

The automotive sector produces millions of parts every year, from small components to the largest parts. Many processes are already in place, but the integration of X-ray tomography completes and opens up the field of possibilities for non-destructive quality control. In an automation production environment, X-ray tomography helps to ensure that high standards of precision and quality are maintained, ensuring compliance with virtual models and enhancing vehicle safety.

E-Mobility

The e-mobility industry (electric vehicles, electric bikes, e-scooters, etc.) is booming. More and more people are adopting the so-called “soft mobility”. And to keep pace, battery manufacturers have to adapt. Checking the inside of a battery without destroying is impossible, so X-ray tomography provides a solution by ensuring that every component is checked and analyzed in depth.

Aerospace

Performance, reliability, innovation, high standards - that's how the aerospace, aeronautics, and defense sectors can be summed up. Every single component has to be inspected, from every angle, and being able to do this non-destructively with a CT scan means that inspection processes are faster, safer and more efficient.

Additive manufacturing

From the powder to the final part, everything can be inspected by tomography in additive manufacturing. While 3D printing has long been a technology for prototyping and very small production runs, the technology, machines, and materials are constantly being developed to become a production technology in its own right. A common challenge with layer-by-layer 3D printed components is the lack of repeatability and reproducibility in the manufacturing process. It is therefore crucial to be able to inspect both the internal and external aspects of the structure.

Medical

Precise, complex, sometimes unique parts, from research to implementation in the human body, the validation process is often time-consuming and stressful in the medical field. Material health is vital when it comes to putting a foreign body into a human body. X-ray tomography therefore offers a number of advantages, such as detecting defects, cavities, areas with porosities or even cracks, so that surgery can be limited.

Injection Moulding

Millions of parts are designed by injection moulding every day throughout the world. Checking each part, even with very short scan times, remains complex. But when it comes to inspecting the health of materials, samples and the moulds that will shape the parts, industrial tomography proves perfect.

Academic research and science

Paleontology, materials science, geology, biology, X-ray tomography is now increasingly used in scientific fields. Tomography makes it possible to scan on a macro or nano scale, analyze and then reconstruct a material, mineral, organic sample or fossil in 3D in a non-destructive way.

Electronics

From microchips to printed circuits, electronics are present in every industrial sector. So, to guarantee the quality and integrity of components, using industrial tomography to inspect each layer saves real time and money.

Medical

Precise, complex, sometimes unique parts, from research to implementation in the human body, the validation process is often time-consuming and stressful in the medical field. Material health is vital when it comes to putting a foreign body into a human body. X-ray tomography therefore offers a number of advantages, such as detecting defects, cavities, areas with porosities or even cracks, so that surgery can be limited.

Injection Moulding

Millions of parts are designed by injection moulding every day throughout the world. Checking each part, even with very short scan times, remains complex. But when it comes to inspecting the health of materials, samples and the moulds that will shape the parts, industrial tomography proves perfect.

Academic research and science

Paleontology, materials science, geology, biology, X-ray tomography is now increasingly used in scientific fields. Tomography makes it possible to scan on a macro or nano scale, analyze and then reconstruct a material, mineral, organic sample or fossil in 3D in a non-destructive way.

Electronics

From microchips to printed circuits, electronics are present in every industrial sector. So, to guarantee the quality and integrity of components, using industrial tomography to inspect each layer saves real time and money.

For all these industries and many others, industrial X-ray tomography helps to reduce R&D development cycle times, facilitate defect analysis and improve quality and control of the manufacturing process.
 
 
 
 
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