[4B6] A new capability of 3D inspection of composite parts using the tomosynthesis technique and robotic deployment to increase data yield and reduce inspection time
M Holden¹, M Contino¹, T Stengelin¹, A Barnes¹, C Antrobus¹, C Taylor¹, L Van De Parijs¹, J Whittle¹, B Hughes¹, Y Hryshchenko², S Asif², P Webb², N Avdelidis², A Adiuku² and A Plastropoulos²
¹Adaptix Ltd, UK
²Cranfield University, UK
Current computed tomography (CT) inspection techniques do not allow for large-scale composite component inspection at speed. This paper covers two current grants that Adaptix has been awarded and are running simultaneously. One is with the National Aerospace Technology Exploitation Programme (NATEP), researching and developing techniques for software to automate failure detection in composite preforms working with DOWTY, a GE Aerospace company. The other, with the Aerospace Technology Institute (ATI), is a grant to develop the first application of the tomosynthesis technique that is deployed on multi-axis robots to provide a solution to these underserved markets and to enable the digital twin with 3D X-ray data. This was initiated through an ATI grant to bring together Cranfield University’s world-class robotics capabilities with Adaptix's tomosynthesis technology. A first baseline prototype was created to integrate the two systems early on in the project, to enable a holistic view of the entire device. Following this, the ‘perfect’ architecture was developed, alongside software development to overlay the data collected with a digital twin of the part under test. A steering committee of aerospace primes is shaping the requirements and specification of the device. This project runs until the end of 2025. Finally, a brief overview is given of the opportunities the marriage of these technologies offers to other industries such as welding, 3D metal additive and battery production.
