New possibilities, new challenges
By offering enormous flexibility in what is geometrically possible, additive manufacturing (AM) has changed the way engineers think about product design. However, the more complex the designs get, the more challenging it becomes to inspect the components for flaws and irregularities. Since additive manufacturing and computed tomography are both 3D technologies, they have always worked together naturally. As a non-destructive testing technology (NDT), computed tomography virtually eliminates evaluation error and provides an accurate visual understanding of internal spatial structures, densities, and wall thickness.
Since the early days of additive manufacturing, computed tomography has been the quality assurance tool of choice. Now CT validates its strengths as an informational tool in R&D.
For AM, CT is more than just a quality assurance tool
While computed tomography has taken its rightful place as a powerful technology for non-destructive testing in quality assurance and quality control, manufacturers have increasingly discovered its capabilities as a process improvement tool. During R&D, computed tomography enables engineers to collect valuable information about the quality of 3D printed products and to feed this information back into the production loop for a continuous improvement of AM processes – reducing cost, risk, and lead time.
Typical flaws in additive manufacturing
Nominal to actual deviations
Porosity
Residual powder
Bonding defects
Balling
Gas pores, cracks, inclusions
Excessive surface roughness
Micro-structural issues
The advantages of 3D CT inspection over 2D X-ray radioscopy
Due to the wide range of possible applications and flexible evaluation options that computed tomography (CT) offers, the aerospace industry is shifting from the more traditional 2D radioscopy toward 3D CT inspection. Although the inspection with modern CT technology takes a little longer than X-ray testing, it delivers data that is significantly more comprehensive. For example, the exact spatial position of defects, such as pores, can only be reliably determined with CT and its multitude of viewing angles. CT data sets also allow downstream inspections of the component in all three dimensions and facilitate various metrology applications.
Which are the applications for industrial CT in AM?
Powder analysis
Industrial CT can typically scan around 50,000 particles in one single sequence and determine their sphericity, size distribution, and the existence of open or closed pores in the individual grain. These data can then be plotted and analyzed quantitatively.
Wall thickness and surface roughness analyses
One of the most valuable analyses is wall thickness analysis. Using advanced analysis software, CT inspection systems create images that display different thicknesses and their distribution within the part in color code. High-resolution scans even allow you to make statements about the surface roughness of AM parts, which plays a significant role in their fatigue behavior.
Nominal-actual comparison and GD&T
A CT dataset contains all geometric data of the inside and outside structures of a sample. So, the actual geometry of a part can be easily compared with a CAD file, providing a color-coded model of geometric deviations. It is also possible to conduct geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T) checks on the real part data.
Dimensional measurement
In addition to nominal-actual comparisons between scan data and CAD file, CT also measures internal and external features in three dimensions. All measurable features with their respective tolerancing can be defined using the CAD model to create a measurement template, which can be applied to the actual dataset by the click of a button.
Porosity and defect analysis
Since computed tomography uses X-rays to inspect the part, delamination, pores, loose powder, cracks, and many other internal defects can be visualized and analyzed. The appropriate software displays pores in color code , while the pore size distribution can be plotted to a histogram or scatter plot.
Mechanical simulation (on “real” data)
For a first assessment of the structural integrity of a given part, finite element (FE) stress simulations can be performed directly on CT scan data. This procedure is particularly suitable for highly complex structures such as foams, lattice structures, or components with microporosity.
Fiber analysis
CT data allows the calculation of local and global fiber statistics in the form of fiber orientation tensors or histograms, which include porosity analysis results to determine matrix material porosity. In addition, the principal orientation of woven fabrics or lay-up materials can be determined.
NON DESTRUCTIVE TESTING
Inspection Systems
Our world class Imaging Division offers a range of innovative and cost effective equipment for industrial X-ray and CT for non-destructive parts inspection.
SUPPORT & TRAINING
Service & Maintenance
We have a team of equipment and process specialists capable of providing 24/7 rapid-response, ‘frontline’ support and training to compliment your own technical personnel.
Featured Products
We offer a broad range of cutting-edge X-ray and CT products designed to support all your industrial inspection needs. Whether your component is measured in micrometers or meters, we have a system that fits.
YXLON FF85 CT
With its dual-tube configuration, the high-energy, high-resolution FF85 CT achieves extremely precise inspection results for a wide variety of material types and part sizes.
YXLON FF35 CT
With its optional dual-tube set-up, the FF35 CT combines unprecedented CT data quality with the highest versatility when inspecting small and medium-sized parts.
Yxlon UX20
Designed to provide intuitive operation, the UX20 system makes it easy for users of all expertise levels to conduct highly efficient X-ray and CT inspections in record time.
YXLON UX50
With its large inspection envelope, multiple field-of-view extensions, and a powerful 450 kV X-ray tube, the UX50 takes the inspection of complex, dense parts to the next level.
Yxlon Cheetah EVO
The Cheetah EVO is designed to meet the demands of Industry 4.0, enabling efficient and reliable inspection in the SMT and semiconductor industry as well as in laboratories.
Why choose Etek Aero
With our team of experienced and factory trained service engineers, Etek Aero provide a world class service that focuses on quick response times and putting customers first.
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