Product category:
Non Destructive Testing
News Release from: Shaw Inspection Systems | Subject: Venlo high resolution, X-ray inspection system
Edited by the Manufacturingtalk Editorial
Team on 04 December 2002
Film replacement technology covers costs
in 1 year
One of the first companies to take delivery of a high resolution, film replacement X-ray inspection system recouped machine cost, through saved film and processing costs, within 12 months.
One of the first companies to take delivery of X-Tek Industrial's pioneering new Venlo high resolution, film replacement X-ray inspection system, Eldim, the Netherlands-based manufacturer of precision aerospace and stationary gas turbine components expects to recoup the cost of a machine from saved film and processing costs within just 12 months Eldim manufactures a range of precision-drilled turbine blades ranging in size from those for aero engines to much larger gas turbine blades for power generation
This article was originally published on Manufacturingtalk on 23 Jun 2008 at 8.00am (UK)
Related stories
Demand surges for computed tomography scans
Shaw Inspections Systems offers X-ray computed tomography inspection services for larger components up to 200kg in weight, 1m in diameter and up to 2m in height.
X-ray systems maker appoints production manager
X-Tek Systems, one of the world's top manufacturer's of real-time microfocus x-ray systems is pleased to announce the appointment of Les Goddard as Production Manager.
As well as a very rapid return on the capital investment of the two Venlo machines which Eldim has purchased, the company has been able to substantially cut the amount of time taken up by x-ray inspection.
When using film, it typically took five minutes to for an exposure and a further 15 to 20 minutes to develop the film for inspection.
The real-time X-ray imaging of the Venlo produces an image within one to two minutes, offering huge cumulative time savings and speeding up production.
Further reading
NDT company selects business development director
X-Tek Industrial has announced the appointment of Stuart Wright to the newly created position of Business Development Director.
Digital X-ray technology NDT facility demonstrated
A digital X-ray technology demonstration facility is now available for product demonstration, component testing, problem solving and system optimisation for X-ray NDT needs.
Continuous scanning system checks tube welds
Offering film quality resolution with the cost and time-saving benefits of real-time digital outputs, a continuous scanning system is designed for linear, circumferential and spiral welds in tubes.
A key feature of the Venlo system is its genuinely film quality resolution of the images produced, essential for Eldim's own quality control and that of its aero engine and power turbine OEM customers.
Commenting on the benefits of the new Venlo machines, Harrie Martens, Quality Engineer at Eldim said: "Using VENLO is going to save us a minimum of EUR 100,000 in film and processing costs in the first year alone.
It is quicker to use than film, yet offers the same quality and resolution.
X-ray inspection is essential for checking the cooling holes in turbine blades, so the time and cost saving efficiencies of this technology give us substantial competitive advantage." X-Tek Industrial's Venlo has been specifically developed to replace film in applications requiring the highest levels of radiographic quality.
It uses a choice of micro and mini-focal X-ray sources and a high resolution, large-area, amorphous silicon X-ray detector.
Available either as a vacuum de-mountable micro-focus system for detection of the finest defects or a constant potential, sealed tube system for maximum productivity, Venlo can be supplied with a choice of three penetration levels as standard, 160kV, 225kV and 320kV.
The 320kV x-ray gun featured in the top of the range model chosen by Eldim, is the highest powered system of its type believed to be available anywhere in the world, allowing engineers accurately to view inside denser materials and thicker components than ever before.
Ideal for a wide range of NDT applications, the Venlo has a large component load tray of 40cm x 30 cm.
Its microfocus X-ray sources, are optimised to give high power and long filament/target life with the minimum of maintenance at a focal spot of 25/30 microns.
They also have an X/Y motorised component tray enabling the 40cm x 30cm area to be covered and computer control at high magnification.
Mini-focus systems can image components filling almost the entire load tray area in a single exposure and produce results in a fraction of the time of film systems.
The Venlo's state-of-the-art large area, amorphous silicon detector features over seven million elements and can achieve a contrast of better than 1 per cent and a dynamic range exceeding 4000:1.
It has an area of 40cm x 30cm and even at 50 micron resolution/ 5X magnification coverage is 8cm x 6cm of the component.
All versions of the Venlo Series are rugged and compact and have been designed for ease of use and high productivity while meeting the most stringent safety standards.
The X-ray source, detector and component load tray are enclosed in a durable cabinet designed for quick installation.
A special version of X-Tek's 'IMPS III' Image Processing software supplied with the Venlo has three levels of security under password control and provides a macro language 'teach/repeat' for the entire inspection cycle.
Images are viewed as a radiograph on a 1600 x 1200 pixel screen and archived onto CD-R or DVD-R discs.
A database/reporting system and a second monochrome display with a 2500 x 2000 pixel resolution are also available as options.
About X-Tek Industrial - the company designs and manufactures comprehensive and innovative range of X-ray equipment for industrial Non-Destructive Testing.
In-house capabilities include Mechanical/Electrical design, Turnkey Project Management, Image Processing, Automated Defect Recognition (ADR) and Computed Tomography (CT).
X-Tek industrial has considerable expertise in detector design and its comprehensive range includes Amorphous Silicon panels, Linear Array Detectors, Multi-line Detectors and CCD Imagers.
Standard products include X-ray Cabinets, X-ray rooms and Constant Potential X-ray sources using both sealed and vacuum de-mountable microfocus tubes.
Custom solutions are also available to meet customers exact performance requirements.
X-Tek Industrial has extensive X-ray R and D facilities.
• Shaw Inspection Systems: contact details and other news
• Email this article to a colleague
• Register for the free Manufacturingtalk email newsletter
• Manufacturingtalk Home Page
Search the Pro-Talk network of sites
