By Jesse Garant Metrology Center
For Machined part types, there are 3 primary areas that have had a large amount of success when adopting CT Scanning. These areas include: Qualifying New Products Typically traditional inspection techniques for machined products have proven to be highly effective in verifying exterior features. However, when internal or difficult to measure features effect performance, the costs and time for validating products internally or in a free state environment can quickly add up. X-Ray and CAT Scanning can not only can be a non-destructive testing (NDT) method to perform non-contact measurements of internal features, but it can also provide a color-coded map identifying variations between the CAD model or identify features that are not being manufactured as intended. Difficult to measure dimensional callouts such as surface profile, sphericity, and concentricity can be completed with computed tomography analysis tools as the entire workspace is in 3D. Furthermore, porosity inspection in welded areas can verify the quality and performance of the final product. Depending on the cost of the end product, sometimes computed tomography is even feasible to use as a tool for qualifying every part. Products like brackets, gears, gaskets, pulleys, heat transfer devices, housing, precision instruments, aerospace & space components, and medical devices have been verified successfully to the manufacturers requirements using computed tomography. Failure Investigation For machined parts, X-Ray and CT scanning failure investigation has proven to be beneficial for identifying the root cause of a potential failure. Identification of the failure not only allows companies to correct the error happening in production, but it also helps to identify a potential financial impact resulting from the failing products being used by the end customer or consumer. When even further insight is required, Micro CT scanning with very high-resolution systems can identify slight changes in geometry which could stack up to result in the overall product failure. Industrial CT Scanning can provide data for virtually all physical defect types external and internal to the product. These include porosities, voids, and cracks, assembly misalignments, runout, tolerance deviations, and wall thickness variations. Benefiting from Service Labs As the technology is rapidly being adopted and standards are evolving all the time, utilizing a certified service lab ensures proper compliance to the latest standards. This ensures the project is completed according to a verifiable process and the experienced lab can not only complete the results but communicate the results. As computed tomography data is complex, large in file size, and new for some people; effective communication is key to ensure all parties are properly informed of the results for effective decisions to be made.
