Industrial CT Scanning for Manufacturing
Successful manufacturers continuously look for ways to effectively balance quality, efficiency, and competitiveness in their manufacturing process and end products. Without the proper balance they may face costly deadline setbacks, scrapped parts, and rework time.
Identifying and addressing defects and design flaws early in the production process ensures manufacturers reach the highest level of product quality and reliability. Even one occurrence of producing a batch of parts only to discover the assemblies don’t fit together, fail in-process inspection, or even worse, fail in the field can put a company at a stand still. These issues can be avoided with the aid of Computed Tomography (CT) during design, development, and production processes.
CT inspection helps catch errors before they become costly to both manufacturers’ bottom line and reputation. Flaws that cannot be found with traditional inspection techniques are now out in the open with CT.
How CT Fits into Manufacturing
CT is similar to traditional manufacturing inspection methods in many ways. It can be used for fast CAD-to-part comparisons, GD&T applications, and part digitization. Where CT differs from other methods is in its ability to cover every internal and external surface with millions of data points in only a few minutes.
Efficient Processes: Particularly effective for assembled components, X-ray scanning streamlines inspection by analyzing samples without requiring disassembly. As a non-destructive testing method, samples are not damaged or scrapped and can still be used upon passing inspection. Additionally, 2D and 3D visualizations reduce cycle times to optimize manufacturing processes and meet tight production deadlines.
Competitive Advantage: Consistently delivering high-quality products that exceed customer expectations is a critical component for manufacturing success. Investing in inspection services throughout the product development process ensures a reliable product reaches consumer hands and maintains long-term customer relationships.
CT Scanning Services
CT inspection is similar to traditional methods in many ways. It can be used for fast CAD-to-part comparisons, GD&T applications, and part digitization. Where CT differs from other methods is in its ability to cover every internal and external surface with millions of data points in only a few minutes.
We use CT scanning to perform:
- Full First Article Inspections (FAI)
- Wall thickness inspection
- Porosity analysis
- Composite fiber analysis
- Reverse engineering
- Assembly inspection
- Leak path identification
- Crack detection
- Color mapping - Nominal (CAD) to actual comparisons
- Welding joint defects
- Dimensional analysis.
- Visual inspection - 2D and 3D Visualization
- Functional Faults
- Statistical analysis (Capability studies)
- Gage repeatability and reproducibility studies (GR&R)
Candidates for CT Inspection
X-ray scanning is an excellent inspection technique for various material types including organic, plastic injection moldings, composite, textile fibers, and aluminum. CT is a non-contact inspection method. Soft materials can be deformed when inspected with traditional contact methods whereas CT’s non-destructive capabilities won’t deform or degrade the sample being inspected, making it a good fit for delicate materials.
Your CT Report
You know your product best, and it's our job to help you improve it effectively and efficiently. We want the data we share to be guided and relevant to your needs. Upon an initial scan, we review the findings with the customer to identify areas of interest so we know where to focus our efforts to achieve the most valuable results. The AIS Report & Certificate of Inspection customers receive back includes their data results, graphic reporting, our uncertainty statement, and the pre and post filtering CT point sets.
Data format options:
Simple Scans: Scan Part > Export STL > Send STL to customer > customer completes their own.
Dimensional Analysis: Scan Part > Export STL > Complete dimensional analysis in VG, Polyworks, SmartProfile
Dimensional Analysis with Verification: Scan Part > Export STL > Complete dimensional analysis in SmartProfile
VG Analysis: Scan Part > Complete Analysis in VG > send VG file to customer with free viewer
Industries Served
- Medical device manufacturers
- Electronics/Battery
- Biomedical
- Academic and scientific research
- Aerospace
- Automotive
Devices
- Additive manufacturing
- Castings
- Plastic injection molding
- Batteries
- Medical assemblies
PQI is the North American Partner for RX Solutions Industrial CT Equipment
RX Solutions offers a wide range of CT Micro and Nano Scanning systems. The North American Technical Center at our Plymouth facility houses an EasyTom 230 kV and an EasyTom S 150 kV system used by AIS for contract inspection services.