FIFTH CANADIAN CONFERENCE ON NONDESTRUCTIVE ... - IAEA

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processing techniques. Images may be archived by electronic means, thereby
eliminating costly x-ray film.
This paper will highlight several practical applications of microfocus
x-ray imaging in the area of micro-electronics, investment castings and
composite aerospace materials. Test part sizes range from small microcircuits
to large sections of aerospace structures. Geometric magnifications
ranging from 10X to more than 200X are illustrated.
One interesting application which will be discussed involves the automated
in-place inspection of bonded components on a complete airframe. Robotic
positioning of the microfocus x-ray imaging system over an 85' x 90'
working envelope is provided. All inspection functions except the interpretation
of the actual microfocus x-ray image are under computer control.
Planned future system enhancements include a digital optical disk archival
image storage and retrieval system allowing past inspection images to be
compared with present inspection images for tost part performance tracking.
It is also anticipated that much of the operator-dependent real time x-ray
image interpretation can be placed under computer control providing a truly
automated x-ray inspection system m-ide possible by the high quality real
time x-ray image resulting from the use of high output microfocus x-ray
imaging techniques.