Method for detecting at least one critical defect in a ceramic rolling element providing the steps of capturing a plurality of two-dimensional digital radiographic images of the ceramic rolling element; digitally filtering each radiographic image; delineating, on the basis of the filtered image, at least one region liable to comprise the critical defect; constructing stereoscopically a virtual model of the ceramic rolling element having the region; comparing the dimensions of the delineated region with a plurality of predetermined threshold values, and, when the dimensions are greater than the threshold values, generating an alarm signal.

Provided is a method for virtually executing an operation of an energy dispersive x-ray spectrometry (EDS) system in real time production line by analyzing a defect included in a material undergoing inspection based on computer vision, the method including receiving a scanning electron microscope (SEM) image of the material including the defect, extracting an image-feature from the SEM image of the material, classifying the extracted image-feature under a predetermined label, predicting, based on the classified image-feature, an element associated with the defect included in the material and a shape of the predicted element, and grading the defect included in the material based on comparing the predicted element with a predetermined criteria.

An edge crack detection apparatus for detecting an edge crack of a metal plate being conveyed includes: a detection part including a plurality of elements arranged along a plate width direction of the metal plate, each of the plurality of elements being configured to be capable of detecting presence or absence of the metal plate at a position of the element in the plate width direction; a plate edge position determination part configured to determine a plate edge position of the metal plate in the plate width direction on the basis of a detection result of each of a plurality of first elements positioned within a first region in the plate width direction, from among the plurality of elements; and an edge crack detection part configured to detect an edge crack of the metal plate on the basis of a detection result of each of a plurality of second elements selected on the basis of the plate edge position and positioned within a second region which is narrower than the first region in the plate width direction, from among the plurality of elements.

A method of additively manufacturing a plurality of parts in a manner that facilitates efficient collection of metrology data on the parts is described herein. The method includes the steps of: additively manufacturing a construct, the construct comprising: (i) a backing, and (ii) a plurality of parts connected to the backing; inserting the backing into an imaging apparatus in an orientation in which the plurality of parts are positioned for imaging; then imaging the plurality parts in the imaging apparatus to collect image data from each part, and then removing the construct from the imaging apparatus and separating the parts from the backing.

A method for calculating a laminate state of a CFRP laminate according to an embodiment includes acquiring a plurality of images of a cross section of the CFRP laminate orthogonal to a lamination direction by imaging the CFRP laminate with X-rays at a plurality of different positions in the lamination direction, the CFRP laminate including first layers including carbon fibers oriented in a first direction orthogonal to the lamination direction and second layers including carbon fibers oriented in a second direction orthogonal to the lamination direction and different from the first direction, and calculating a parameter correlated with a quantity of voids formed in the first layers and the second layers from the plurality of acquired images, and distinguishing between the first layers and the second layers using the calculated parameter.

An insulated electrical component of an insulated electrical machine includes a conducting element, a first radiographically-visible conductor sensor node coupled to the conducting element, at least one second radiographically-visible conductor sensor node coupled to the conducting element a first distance in a predetermined direction from the first radiographically-visible conductor sensor node, and an insulating material bonded to the conducting element. In some embodiments, the insulated electrical component further includes a first radiographically-visible insulator sensor node coupled to the insulating material and not coupled to the conducting element and at least one second radiographically-visible insulator sensor node coupled to the insulating material and not coupled to the conducting element a second distance from the first radiographically-visible insulator sensor node. The radiographically-visible sensor nodes are distinguishable from the conducting element and the insulating material in a radiographic image. Methods of manufacturing and non-destructive testing of insulated electrical components are also disclosed.

The system for in-situ real-time measurements of microstructure properties of 3D-printing objects during 3-D printing processes. An intensive parallel X-ray beam (with an adjustable beam size) impinges on a printing object and is diffracted on a crystal lattice of the printing material. The diffracted radiation impinges on a reflector formed with an array of reflector crystals mounted on an arcuated substrate. The diffracted beams reflected from the reflector crystals correspond to the diffraction intensity peaks produced by interaction of the crystal lattice of the printing material with the impinging X-ray beam. The intensities of the diffraction peaks are observed by detectors which produce corresponding output signals, which are processed to provide critical information on the crystal phase composition, which is closely related to the defects and performance of the printing objects. The subject in-situ technology provides an effective and efficient way to monitor, in real-time, the quality of 3D-printing parts during the 3-D printing process, with a significant potential for effective process control based on the reliable microstructure feedback.

An inspection apparatus includes a feed-in preparation chamber, an imaging chamber, and a feed-out preparation chamber. Each preparation chamber includes a feed-in unit that receives an inspection object through a first opening, a traverser that translates the received object to a second opening in a direction different from the receiving direction of the object, and a feed-out unit that moves the object in a direction different from a moving direction of the traverser and discharges the object through the second opening. The imaging chamber includes an imaging unit that images the object fed from the feed-in preparation chamber. The traverser includes a mount for the object, and a shield that moves together with the mount and prevents radioactive rays entering one of the first and second openings and propagating in the moving direction of the traverser from reaching the other opening.

A method of operating a radiation inspection system includes identifying a regulatory region along a predetermined path where public access is restricted based upon criteria other than radiation exposure, measuring a radiation exposure level from a radiation source of the radiation inspection system within the regulatory region, irradiating a target within the regulatory region using the radiation source and without erecting a physical barricade, and determining a restricted area around the radiation source. The restricted area corresponds to an area where a radiation exposure rate exceeds a predetermined threshold. The radiation exposure rate may be determined by the radiation exposure level from the radiation source and a speed of the radiation inspection system. The method may include operating the radiation inspection system to dynamically adjust the restricted area so that it does not extend beyond the regulatory region. The radiation inspection system may be moveable along the predetermined path.

A compression moulding machine comprises: an extrusion unit configured to extrude a rod of pasty polymeric material; a cutting element, configured to portion the rod into individual charges; a rotary carousel, including a plurality of moulds, each mould being configured to receive a respective charge and to form a corresponding object from the charge; a feeder, configured to convey each charge to a respective mould at a feed position; an inspecting device, configured to capture inspection data, representing a composition of the rod or of the charges.