Method for inspecting components using computed tomography

US11408836B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• General Electric Company · US

Inventors

• Patrick Joseph Howard · Cincinnati, US
• John Charles Janning · Cincinnati, US
• Andrew Joseph Galish · Sharonville, US
• Kevin Moermond · Cincinnati, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 28, 2020
• Grant date: Aug 9, 2022
• Expiry date: Feb 28, 2040

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G01N2223/646
• WIPO field: Measurement
• WIPO sector: Instruments

Abstract

A method of inspecting a component using computed tomography is described, the method comprising the steps of: (a) providing a computed tomography (CT) scanner; (b) providing a target component; (c) reviewing the geometry of the component; (d) estimating the best component orientation; (e) orienting the component; (f) scanning the component with the CT scanner; (g) loading CT scan data into 3D image software; (h) registering the best CT scan data; (i) determining acceptable and unacceptable regions of CT scan data; (j) determining additional component orientations; (k) repeating steps (e) through (i) until all regions of CT scan data for the component are acceptable; and (l) creating a merged volume of acceptable CT scan data.