Computerized tomography (CT) scans take multiple x-rays and turn them into three dimensional images. Tomography refers to the process of taking two dimensional images of a three dimensional object. CT scanning was invented by British engineer Godfrey Hounsfield of EMI Laboratories and South African physicist Allan Cormack of Tufts University. The pair was later awarded the Nobel Prize for Physiology or Medicine for this invention. Among other things, CT scanning is a great tool for 3d reverse engineering.
CT scanning services can be used in a wide variety of industries and for a large number of purposes. In industry, it is a great tool for 3d reverse engineering. Using it can also greatly reduce operating costs while keeping quality high.
- Lower your operating costs. People like to say, “time is money” and that is very true. Computerized tomography allows companies to inspect the interior of parts and products without taking the time to disassemble them. This means the inspection time is dramatically cut. Cutting down on inspection time means products are able to be sold quicker.
- Shorten your development time. You can validate specifications quickly when you use industrial CT scanners. This can expedite the development and design process. Most scans can be done and produce quality images in a matter of a few seconds. This dramatically changes the pre-production process in many industries. Businesses are able to get their products and parts from the development stage to store shelves in a fraction of the time. This also helps companies maintain their competitive advantage.
- Boost production speed. With CT scanning, the time it takes to replicate internal components and products is greatly reduced. No longer are CAD files needed to be generated from scratch. Full production and prototypes can be made much faster than ever before. Businesses can improve production performance as well. This can be done with 3d reverse engineering as well as other kinds of replication.
- Accuracy and product quality are improved. Industrial CT scanners can take the most precise measurements. Whether they are handling 3d reverse engineering or not, the images created can show even the smallest imperfection or problem. Adjustments can be made to the development process much earlier than ever before meaning that the products have a much higher degree of accuracy. The quality of the final products is much better this way as well. This translates into an increase in customer satisfaction. It has been estimated that industrial CT scanning can reduce a company’s new product inspection and failure analysis costs by between 25 and 75%.
- Lower the number of product recalls. Because the final products are of a better accuracy and quality, the number of recalls is reduced, which can be a huge cost savings to the company. As a corollary result, the number of potential lawsuits is also reduced (those caused by poor workmanship and defective products).
- Inspect products without damaging them. Unlike other kinds of inspections, industrial CT scanning allows manufacturers to see inside products and parts without taking them apart. The process of disassembling products and parts can damage them. Using this kind of scanning removes that chance.
A lot has changed in the world of industrial CT scanning. When it was first invented, the CT slices would take multiple hours to create. Now complete 3D models that have billions of voxels can be made in just a few seconds. This has made processes such as 3D reverse engineering, rapid prototyping, 3D metrology and others possible.
Medical CT scanning has undergone a similar transformation. Initially, CT scans on people were only used for the head. In 1976, whole body imaging with CT scanners was introduced giving medical professionals a whole new use for the technology. They can use these scanners to see into the body and diagnose conditions with an accuracy they never had before. This also saves patients the pain and stress of invasive, exploratory surgeries.
In today’s global environment, the ability to develop and manufacture products in multiple locations is key to many businesses success. The improved accuracy of part inspection that is possible with industrial CT scanning makes a lot of this possible.
