By Comet Yxlon
Computed tomography (CT) delivers three-dimensional images visualizing the inner structures of a scanned object, including the exact spatial position of defects or other regions of interest. Comet Yxlon CT inspection systems support manufacturers and scientists, e.g., in the electronics, automotive, and aerospace industries, in their pursuit of maximum product quality, and efficient production processes – with fewer rejects and recalls, less waste, and less downtime. Comet Yxlon offers a wide variety of CT inspection systems for almost all sizes of objects – from the smallest microchips to complete aircraft or car engine blocks. Identification of porosity and inclusions: Casting flaws, welding defects, porosity, cracks, inclusions, or voids – during 3D inspection, computed tomography reliably visualizes irregularities with their exact position and shape. Structural analysis, e. g. in AM: CT allows insights into the interior of a variety of objects – from geological specimens like core samples to construction materials used in roads and bridges to additively manufactured products. In additive manufacturing (AM), CT scanning helps detect typical flaws that can occur during powder bed fusion, such as porosity, balling, excessive surface roughness or micro-structural issues. Analysis of composite materials: Fiber orientation (e. g. of carbon fibers) is an essential part of the composite analysis because it is critical to a product’s properties. With CT, operators can visualize the orientation of a part’s fibers using software that assigns specific colors to every angle in space. Major misalignments can be highlighted with an easy-to-identify color. Metrology: In metrology, 3D scanning is widely used for comparing external and internal surfaces, e.g., for nominal-actual-comparisons, where a CT scan can be matched against a CAD model, or two CT scans can be compared to each other. Industrial CT also allows the dimensional survey of internal structures, e. g., for creating compliance reports on each cavity of multi-cavity dies for injection-molded plastic parts. Assembly analysis: Industrial CT can be used to check the mechanical form and fit of assemblies or to visualize components within a product, like gaskets or heating elements. In defect analysis of electronic components and printed circuit boards (PCB), CT offers details about the volume of blowholes, or the pad surface structure of a defective solder ball. It also helps analyze structures of only a few microns in size within housings, like in inspections of semiconductor packaging.
