Calibration for X-ray Computed Tomography

Manufacturing Technology Engineering Doctoral Centre (MTEDC)

Loughborough University

Industrial X-ray Computed Tomography (XCT) is a complex measurement process that involves a number of inter-related steps. From this starting point, plus the requirement to measure internal features made from a multitude of materials, the development of a calibration process is also complex. Whilst the transmission of X-ray photons through a given material is a linear process, the use of polychromatic sources with industrial XCT systems, and the potentially complex nature of the measurement object, means that the process often becomes non-linear and prediction of performance is problematic. This means that the interpretation of geometrical data is not traceable and the performance of the systems as quantitative Non-destructive Testing tools or Coordinate Measurement Machines in a production environment is questionable.

The National Physics Laboratory (NPL) is currently working to address calibration and performance verification of industrial XCT systems.

Project proposal: The calibration process has been split into four main tasks and this EngD will focus on one of these. Namely: A series of (radiographic) projections is built up by rotating the object being measured and a mathematical reconstruction of the object is calculated. The capturing of the series of projections is essentially a CMM process and many of the techniques that are applied to the modelling and calibration of conventional CMMs can be applied. However, the novel architecture of a XCT system needs to be explored.

The EngD Researcher will work as part of a wider project team with NPL, mainly focussing on the above task. The EngD will be co-supervised by NPL and Loughborough University. They will be provided relevant industrial challenges by The Manufacturing Technology Centre.

http://www.manufacturingedc.ac.uk/mtedc/apply/projecttitles.aspx

How to apply: For further information visit: http://www.manufacturingedc.ac.uk or contact the Centre Manager requesting an information and application pack: David Shipley, Manufacturing Technology Engineering Doctorate Centre, The University Of Nottingham, T: 0115 9513836 E: david.shipley@nottingham.ac.uk