X-RAY Inspection

Citation

(2009), "X-RAY Inspection", Sensor Review, Vol. 29 No. 2. https://doi.org/10.1108/sr.2009.08729bad.003

X-RAY Inspection

Article Type: New products From: Sensor Review, Volume 29, Issue 2

Even for intermeshing plastic & rubber components

Measuring or checking the position and alignment of components inside other components for metrology or QC, is notoriously difficult. And when there are plastic or rubber components inside other components, it is even worse. The new breed of 2D and 3D X-ray systems from 3DX-Ray, however, has the problem solved.

They can measure a component, in full 3D, to an accuracy of 100 μm.

There are two separate parts to the new technology systems – the X-ray detection hardware and the image processing, measuring, QC and analysis software. The hardware uses the company’s revolutionary linescan, X-ray sensor array, to capture 2D or 3D stereoscopic images (just like human eyes). As well as offering numerous advantages, linescan is inherently cheaper than traditional area scanning – with the final equipment usually being around half the price.

3DX-RAY has the ability to measure relative positions, alignments and boundaries very accurately – which allows it to separate the different components, even when you have close-fit plastic components inside a much denser container.

The software takes this data and builds it into a real-time 3D database simulation, which can then be analysed with the dedicated image processing, automatic image identification and QC routines. This can be sent on to a standard factory QC/SPC/SCADA system if required.

The software can make autonomous pass/fail decisions and automatically rejects components, It can also detect when processes are slowly drifting out of tolerance. It can also compare products to an “ideal” component using “golden board” techniques.