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2004
Conference Paper
Titel
3D computed tomography - technology, applications and process integration
Abstract
In many sectors of the industry geometric inspection of complex parts is currently solved by conventional measuring procedures using Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM). This process is very time-consuming and expensive. In many cases a CMM can only be used with great disadvantages compared to non tactile technologies. Internal geometries of complex parts can only be digitised after the object is cut, which automatically leads to losses in the data and difficulties in post-processing, e.g. the alignment of different data-sets. Furthermore it results in a destroyed part, which is often not wanted, especially in the prototype-state of the product development chain. The huge number of parts, like engine-blocks, cylinder-heads which all have complex outer and inner geometry, and the increasing competition on the global market force the industry to find faster and chepaer methods to bring their products to the market. In the last few years, industry, in particular automotive industry and their suppliers, became more and more familiar with the computed tomography technology (CT). The problem which appeared, was to build-up new process-cahins or better, integrate this new technology into existing workflow. The paper will discuss a way to integrate CT for measurement and quality inspection in the existin process chain and show how it worked in industrial applications like flow investigations.