INSPECTION SYSTEM

The x-ray system (Case 1) was limited to 2D inspections and capability of small sample ro-tation/tilt. The sample holder was not used since samples were larger than the capability of the sample holder. The transmission x-ray captures everything between the x-ray source and the im- 

the fewer x-rays will pass through and be captured by the image intensifier. The x-rays are displayed in a gray-scale image, with the 

The 2D x-ray systems are very effective in testing single-sided assemblies. With the use of a sample manipulator, an oblique view angle enhances inspection of both single- and doublesided assemblies with some loss of magnification due to increase in distance between source and detector. Experience is needed in discerning between bottom-side board elements and actual solder and component defects. This can be very difficult or impossible on extremely dense assemblies. As discussed previously, certain solder-related defects such as voids, misalignments, solder shorts, etc. are easily identified by transmission systems. However, even an experienced operator can miss other anomalies such as insufficient solder, apparent open connections, and cold solder joints. 

The Case 2 x-ray features allow oblique generation of x-ray images with a higher magnification and a better intensity resolution since the focal spot remains the same and there is no loss of magrufication. An isocentric manipulator keeps the field of view unchanged when the 

Characteristics of solder defects, and micro-structural and failure features of tin-based lead-free solder alloys, are somewhat different from tin-lead-based alloys. The difference is apparent when nondestructive techniques such as optical 

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The effectiveness of the approach is demonstrated on two rqjresentative NDT techniques intapretation of data acquired with an ultrasonic rail inspection system and interpretation of eddy-current data from heat exchangers in (petro-)chemical industry. The results show that it is possible to provide a high level of automation in combination with efficient operator support for highly variable NDT measurements where up to now use of automated interpretation was only limited. 

Homogeneity of data. Homogeneous data will be uniform in structure and composition, usually possible to describe with a fixed number of parameters. Homogeneous data is encountered in simple NDT inspection, e.g. quality control in production. Inhomogeneous data will contain various combinations of indications from construction elements, defects and noise sources. An example of inhomogenous data are ultrasonic B-scan images as described in [Hopgood, 1993] or as encountered in the ultrasonic rail-inspection system described later in this paper. 

Apart from the cost of knowledge acquisition, another disadvantage of rule-based systems is the difficulty of rule-base maintenance. Rule-base maintenance may be required when changes are made to the inspection system, the inspection procedures, or if differing constructions are inspected. The maintenance usually cannot be done by end-users. 

Our work is a part of an ongoing research project for the development of an automated weld inspection system. The general flow chart of this research project is given by figure 1. 

We present in this paper an invariant pattern recognition method, applied to radiographic images of welded joints for the extraction of feature vectors of the weld defects and their classification so that they will be recognized automatically by the inspection system. 

An invariant pattern recognition method, based on the Hartley transform, and applied to radiographic images, containing different types of weld defects, is presented. Practical results show that this method is capable to describe weld flaws into a small feature vectors, allowing their recognition automatically by the inspection system we are realizing. 

In general, radioscopic X-ray inspection systems are used in the serial examination of industrial workpieces since they enable a flexible adjustment of the beam direction and of the inspection perspective as well as on-line viewing of the radioscopic image. In the past few years this economic and reliable method has become prevalent in weld inspection during the manufacturing process of pipes. The configuration of such radioscopic systems is schematically represented in fig. 1. 

Part 3 of the Radioscopic Standard is to define the minimum requirements that are placed on a radioscopic system to cover diverse applications. For the past few years, this part has been heavily disputed, the reason being an extreme flexibility in the application of radioscopic inspection systems. A definition of general rules for applications has thus been difficult to achieve. 

A Real Time X-Ray Inspection System is introduced to replace Film X-Ray. The main objective is to reduce the consumption of film and to reduce the environmental pollution due to lead intensifying screens and chemicals. Other benefits are the reduction of space to storage X-ray data and the shorter inspection time, which gives a faster feed back to production. 

W. Nuding, Ch. Sauerwein, S. Schekira, H. Wiacker Multifunctional X-ray Inspection System... 

Our company is dedicated solely to metal-ceramic X-ray tubes since 25 years over this time, we have made lots of different tube models especially for tyre inspection systems. The major reasons for the use of metal-ceramic tubes in this inspection technology are robustness, their small and individual shapes, and the frequent need for modifications of their design due to custom designed systems. 

A Shearographic Inspection System Using a Liquid Crystal Phase Modulator. 

With the development and introduction of a new complete 3D ultrasonic inspection system FORCE Institute enlarges the inspection possibilities and increases the overall quality of UT inspection of complex geometry components. 

The complete advanced 3D inspection system contains three main components the Advanced Inspection Robot - AIR-1, the new generation P-scan ultrasonic data acquisition system - PS-4 and the 3D ultrasonic simulation system - UltraSIM. 

When used in the 3D inspection system PS-4 is configured only for recording of A-scan data with attached unambiguous 3D transducer position and orientation information, since the reeonstruction is done in the attached 3D UltraSIM/UlRecon reconstruction module. 

The 3D inspection system has a number of measuring and report utilities that enables the user to easily find, analyse and report possible indications in the test object. As an example, a moveable 2D projection view plane can be moved along e.g, the welding geometry dynamically updating the content of the 2D projection view window. Indications can be measured using any referenee co-ordinate system and the results and screen dumps can automatically be dumped in report files suited for later import into a word processing application. 

The 3D-inspection system can be applied to many complex inspection tasks where ordinary XY scanners can not perform the job, e.g. nozzle welding inspections and nozzle inner radius inspection in nuclear and petrochemical environments. 

In order to assure that the 3D inspection system concept also in the future fulfills all the requirements for a 3D inspection system for complex geometry, the system is constantly developed and extended with new and powerful facilities. Some options assumed to be implemented in near future are ... 

Figure 1 3D inspection system concept principle drawing... 

A tube manufacturer wanted to investigate the possibility for on-line measurement, calculation and presentation of eccentricity values on aluminum tubes when drawn at high velocities. Based on our experience from development of tube inspection systems [1, 2] for off-line inspection of precision tubes, a project was formulated. The main specifications for the tube manufacturing are summarized below ... 

Gundtoft, H. E., Agerup, C. C. and Nielsen, T. A New Ultrasonic Inspection System for Non-destructive Examination of Precision Tubes", NDT International August 1977,... 

BE-M62 MuHi sensor inspection system for component testing towards more reliable Mr E. Fleuet EOF... 

The laser-based gun tube inspection systems are intended to augment and, perhaps eventually, replace the labor-intensive, time consuming and subjective visual inspection methods that are currently employed by these facilities. 

Lalumandier, S. and Cowling, T., Integrated Laser Profilometry/Ultrasonic Inspection System for Furnace Tubes ASNT Fall Conference, Pittsburg PA, 1997. 

Doyle, J. L., and Bondurant, P. D. (1991) Development of an Automated, Laser-Based Gun Tube Inspection System, QUEST Technical Report No. 542, December. 

In the simplest terms, a fault-tree for risk analysis requires the following information probabiUty of detection of a particular anomaly for an NDE system, repair or replacement decision for an item judged defective, probabiUty of failure of the anomaly, cost of failure, cost of inspection, and cost of repair. Implementation of a risk-based inspection system should lead to an overall improvement in the inspection costs as well as in the safety in operation for a plant, component, or a system. Unless the database is well estabUshed, however, costs may fluctuate considerably. 

Automation and Control of Tests. Increased use of automated systems for controlling and analyzing inspection systems, processes, and... 

System not Increase frequency of cleaning cleaned properly., clean system during service change Visually inspect system CCPS G-3 CCPS G-15 CCPS G-22 CCPS G-29... 

As to the dollar-value of the Arsenal, its facilities are valued at over 500,000,000. The nature of these facilities varies, from the conventional to the nuclear. Conventional ammunition production lines, control laboratories and inspection systems are maintained in stand-by and are occasionally used in experimental or pilot-lot production. Nuclear weapons ammunition, components and devices are developed and produced in the. necessarily special research laboratories, proof-testing facilities and production and pilot assembly lines... 

The effectiveness of the licensing and inspection systems can be assessed by using indicators which measure intermediate outcomes at the individual function level. For instance ... 

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