Improved X-ray computed tomography for quality control of advanced manufactured parts

A consequence of advanced manufacturing technologies is that some internal structures tend to be inaccessible and so quality control is necessarily destructive. This is clearly problematic for high-added value products, where customers nonetheless expect reliability and certified quality. Computed tomography (CT) has been heralded as an answer, making visible as it does internal structures and moreover combining dimensional metrology and material defect analysis. However, the technology has its limitations.