CT scanning is perfect for the quality inspection of plastic connectors with deep pockets and geometry.
More traditional equipment have difficulties to reach these zones.
CT scanning also allows for scanning of multiple samples at once, this is especially useful for multi-cavity and multi-shot measurements.
The screenshots below show the final mesh.
We used a ZEISS Metrotom Scout 6 scanner.
We achieved a voxel resolution of 21µm for one sample.
With our CT scanner we can scan the complete inside of the part where traditional systems cannot get any data. Furthermore we also have data inside of the plastic material. This allows us to detect and quantify:
As you can see on the grayscale slice image through the plastic, this sample didn’t contain any defects on the inside.
With CT scanning we can also check how different parts are assembled.
If the parts have different material densities like for example plastic and rubber then this will clearly show up in the CT slice images as different grayscales.
Gaps and misalignments can then easily be detected.
An overlay with the nominal CAD data is also possible.
Our CT scanner allows us to capture multiple samples in one scan.
This makes it the perfect technology for multi-cavity or multi-shot measurements.
Often a mould has multiple cavities, for example 4. For most of our projects we also have to measure multiple shots, for example 2. This means you have to inspect 12 samples in total.
Since this product is longer in 1 direction it is a perfect candidate for a multi-scan with multiple samples.
We scanned 1, 2, 4 and 12 samples in one scan with a voxel resolution of 21, 24, 26 and 38 µm.
As you can see from the screenshots there is no difference between 1, 2 and 4 samples.
From 12 samples on we start to loose some information of the burrs but there is still plenty of resolution for a normal quality inspection of this part.
For this specific part we could probably go even one step further and scan 24 samples in one scan. There will still be enough resolution to inspect all the specifications of the technical drawing.
Below you can download 2 GOM Inspect files and the according measurement reports in pdf.
For viewing our analysis and other scans in 3D,
we recommend the free GOM Inspect software.
3D scan of a stuffed baby rhinoceros