Methods and systems for determining metrology-like information for a specimen using an inspection tool are provided. One method includes determining first process information for first feature(s) formed in first area(s) on a specimen from output generated by output acquisition subsystem(s) that include an inspection subsystem. The method also includes determining second process information for second feature(s) formed in second area(s) on the specimen from the output and at least a portion of the first process information. At least a portion of the second process information is a different type of information than the first process information. At least a portion of a design for the second feature(s) is different than a design for the first feature(s), and the first area(s) and the second area(s) are mutually exclusive on the specimen.

What is disclosed is a method of processing and/or recycling materials, especially thermoplastic materials, wherein the material is agitated and mixed m a receiving vessel (1), especially a cutting compressor or a preconditioning unit (PCU), and optionally also heated, committed and/or softened, wherein the material in the receiving vessel (1) remains in the form of pieces or particles and unmoltenthroughout, and—wherein the material in piece or particle form being agitated within the receiving vessel is subjected to inline spectroscopic and/or spectrometric analysis and/or measurement wherein die measurements ascertained in tins way are employed to obtain information about the material being analysed in each case, especially quantitative and/or qualitative indices of the respective material. Likewise disclosed is an apparatus comprising—at least one receiving vessel (1), especially a cutting compressor, having a mixing and/or comminuting device for the material, —at least one spectroscopic and/or spectroscopic and/or measuring apparatus (10) for inline analysis of portions of the material in piece or particle form being agitated within the receiving vessel (1), which is designed to emit a physical Stimulus, especially electromagnetic radiation, for excitation of the rotating material in piece or particle form and—to detect the measurement Signals that arise in reaction to the Stimulus, especially characteristic spectra of the electromagnetic radiation scattered on the material analysed, preferably by spectrometric means, and—a Processing and control unit (40) which is in data communication with the measurement apparatus (10) and is designed—to actuate the measurement apparatus (10), to emit the physical Stimulus, especially electromagnetic radiation, and to detect the resultant measurement Signals and to hold the measurements ascertained in this way available and—optionally, on the basis of the measurements ascertained, to derive and hold available Information concerning the material analysed in each case, especially quantitative and/or qualitative indices of the respective material.

Additive manufacturing, such as laser sintering or melting of additive layers, can produce parts rapidly at small volume and in a factory setting. To ensure the additive manufactured parts are of high quality, a real-time non-destructive evaluation (NDE) technique is required to detect defects while they are being manufactured. The present invention describes an in-situ (real-time) inspection unit that can be added to an existing additive manufacturing (AM) tool, such as an FDM (fused deposition modeling) machine, or a direct metal laser sintering (DMLS) machine, providing real-time information about the part quality, and detecting flaws as they occur. The information provided by this unit is used to a) qualify the part as it is being made, and b) to provide feedback to the AM tool for correction, or to stop the process if the part will not meet the quality, thus saving time, energy and reduce material loss.

An inspecting apparatus for inspecting a test piece. The inspecting apparatus includes a test piece holding mechanism for holding the test piece, the test piece holding mechanism having a mounting portion formed from a transparent member having upper and lower exposed surfaces, the upper exposed surface of the transparent member functioning as a mounting surface for mounting the test piece, whereby the test piece mounted on the mounting surface of the mounting portion is adapted to be held by the test piece holding mechanism. The inspecting apparatus further includes an imaging mechanism for imaging the test piece held by the test piece holding mechanism, the imaging mechanism having a first imaging unit provided above the mounting portion, a second imaging unit provided below the mounting portion, and a connecting portion for connecting the first imaging unit and the second imaging unit.

A reflectometer or ellipsometer integrated with a processing tool includes a source module configured to generate a input beam, and a first mirror arranged to receive the input beam. The first mirror is configured to collimate the input beam and direct the input beam toward an aperture plate. The aperture plate has at least two apertures. One of the at least two apertures is arranged to define a measurement beam from a portion of the input beam, and one of the at least two apertures is arranged to define a reference beam from a portion of the input beam. An optical element is arranged within an optical path of the reference beam and outside an optical path of the measurement beam. The optical element is configured to direct the reference beam toward a third mirror. A second mirror is arranged to receive the measurement beam and focus the measurement beam through a window and onto a surface of a sample. The window forms part of a chamber of the processing tool and the sample is disposed within the chamber. At least a portion of the measurement beam is reflected from the surface of the sample as a reflected beam. The second mirror is arranged to receive the reflected beam and direct the reflected beam toward the optical element. The optical element is configured to direct the reflected beam toward the third mirror. The third mirror is arranged to receive the reference beam and the reflected beam and focus the reference beam and the reflected beam onto a collection plane.

A system for detecting the operating condition of components of an implement may include an implement, a first sensor comprising one of an acoustic sensor or a vision-based sensor, a second sensor comprising the other of the acoustic sensor or the vision-based sensor, and a controller communicatively coupled to the first and second sensors. The controller may receive performance data from the first sensor indicative of a performance of the implement. The controller may further monitor the performance data received from the first sensor and identify an area of interest relative to the implement. Additionally, the controller may control an operation of the second sensor to collect component data indicative of an operating condition of at least one component of the implement located within the area of interest.

The present invention relates to an integrated apparatus for monitoring the separation of the solid and liquid phases in a centrifugal by measuring at least one parameter of a filling material inside a centrifugal, the integrated apparatus comprising at least one light source for illuminating at least part of a surface of the filling material, and a light detector arrangement being a adapted to receive light reflected from the filling material. The present invention also relates to an associated method for monitoring and controlling separation of solid and liquid phases in a centrifugal.

Experimental color data obtained from a plurality of cleaning process verification coupons is used to determine optimized cleaning process parameters in an automated cleaning machine. Color data may also be obtained from cleaning process verification coupon(s) to verify the efficacy of a real-world cleaning processes in an automated cleaning machine and/or to obtain one or more suggested corrective action(s) in the event the cleaning process yields an unsatisfactory cleaning result. Based on the optimized cleaning process parameters, an automated cleaning machine may automatically adjust one or more cleaning process parameters to correct for non-optimized parameters sensed during execution of a cleaning process to help prevent an unsatisfactory cleaning result.

A flow cell for use with an analytical device having a measurement surface onto which a fluid sample to be measured can be received comprises: a housing comprising an interface for connecting to an analytical device; a fluid chamber provided in the housing, the fluid chamber comprising sidewalls at least partly defining an internal volume for receiving a multiphase fluid sample and an opening arranged so as to provide a multiphase fluid sample received in the internal chamber volume to a measurement surface of an analytical device when the housing is connected to the analytical device; and an agitation device. The agitation device comprises an agitation mechanism adapted to agitate a multiphase fluid sample within the internal volume of the fluid chamber and cause movement of the fluid through and within the opening thereby providing fluid to a measurement surface of an analytical device. The agitation mechanism is separated from the internal volume by a barrier wall.

In the additive manufacturing process, a monitored or controlled mixture of materials is deposited to form an additive manufactured product by delivering the mixture of materials through a material flow path while using an excitation source to introduce electromagnetic energy into the material flow path using a circuit element having inductive or capacitive reactance disposed adjacent the material ejecting orifice. The excitation source produces an electromagnetic field condition within the material flow path that is responsive to at least one of the permeability and permittivity properties of a space within the material flow path. A sensing means coupled electrically or magnetically to the excitation means is responsive to the electromagnetic field condition and provides at least one control parameter based on the electromagnetic field condition that may be used to control the composition of the mixture of materials by adjusting proportions of constituent materials.