Development of an Automated Digital Radiography System for the Non-Destructive Inspection of Green Powder Metallurgy Parts

摘要

Presently there is no reliable commercialised method able to inspect parts and readily detect local and bulk defects (e.g. cracks, porosity or imperfections) in green state powder metallurgy (PM) parts. The widespread use of PM parts is often hindered by the difficulty in ensuring the absence of defects in these parts. A European consortium, known as DIRA-GREEN and comprising companies and institutions, have grouped together for a three year project in order to address this. As a result, a new inspection tool based on automated digital radiography technology is in development for the improved assessment of green parts. This paper describes one part of the development concerning the radiography inspection technique and how it has been industrialised for use in a factory environment. Design considerations are discussed, and the suitability of radiography inspection as an automated inline inspection technique with a particular focus on green PM parts, is presented. Results in the form of radiographic images of real PM components are presented and examined.