From Megalodon teeth to carbon bikes, from soil samples to medical implants – Comet Yxlon supports science and research with cutting-edge X-ray and CT inspection systems.
Designed in close collaboration with the scientific community
Industrial progress begins with research – and Comet Yxlon is right there to support it. Through long-term relationships with research institutions, Comet Yxlon stays abreast of the latest requirements in the various fields of science. Based on these close collaborations Comet Yxlon has developed a wide range of CT inspection systems and CT functionalities specifically for use in research, with exceptional versatility and flexibility.
Covering a wide range of applications and fields of research:
- Material physics (carbon and composite materials, batteries)
- Additive manufacturing
- Mechanical Engineering (assembly, metrology, in-situ)
- Biology (morphology, zoology, evolutionary biology) and paleontology
- Digitization of museum and university collections
- Geoscience
- Cultural assets
- Pharmaceutical research
- Plastic injection molding
- Metrology
- Implantology
- Bicycles
How X-ray and CT inspections can support materials physics
From carbon-fiber reinforced plastics to solid-state batteries – material science covers an extremely wide field of applications and materials. X-ray and CT inspection with Comet Yxlon systems is a major driver in the fast and accurate analysis of critical parts and components.
Carbon and composite materials
Composite parts such as carbon-fiber reinforced plastics (CFRP), glass-fiber reinforced plastic (GFRP), or wood fiber composites (WFC) aim to be lightweight and stiff at the same time, which makes them challenging to produce in perfect quality. Quality control usually focuses on fiber direction, density, and distribution as well as typical carbon defects such as delamination, pores, and air inclusions.
Battery material research
Lowering cost and weight, increasing performance, reliability, and efficiency – the development of batteries e.g., electric vehicles require improving every part, from underlying chemistry to packaging. Battery material research has become a hot topic for scientists: new designs like solid-state batteries, the analysis of components, and long-term studies drive the optimization of batteries and their materials, like cathode and anode materials.
Research and development in additive manufacturing
Since it is very important to determine the correct printing parameter set for each alloy, researchers and developers in additive manufacturing (AM) usually print small test specimens (often cubes or cylinders) with different parameter sets. Comet Yxlon X-ray tech helps scientists to analyze and evaluate the quality of the specimens, e.g., their relative density as well as the number, positions, and geometrical qualities of individual pores.
Combining tensile and X-ray testing in mechanical engineering
While conventional tensile testing reveals the tensile and compressive strength of a material, it does not give information on which exact physical changes to the internal structure occurred during the inspection. Combining in-situ tensile testing, heating or cooling and X-ray technology supplies materials researchers with new insights. Comet Yxlon systems can be used to test objects with a wide variety of forms and sizes at low or high forces, such as cardboard, fibers, artificial joints, automotive components, metal foams, turbine blades, or core samples for the petrochemical industry.
A gentle inspection method: CT in biology and paleontology
As a non-destructive testing method, computed tomography is an important technology for studying nature without damaging the objects under inspection. Comet Yxlon systems support researchers in the fields of morphology, zoology, evolutionary biology, and paleontology. CT helps in species identification, e.g., by revealing the morphology of bones in fossils, and the segmentation of organs, bones, muscles, and tissue. In evolutionary research, computed tomography can be used to determine the habitat of an animal based on its locomotion apparatus and teeth.
Digitizing museum collections with CT technology
The examination of the specimen is merely one application of CT technology. Increasingly, CT scanning systems are playing an important role in the digitization of museum inventory and collections of scientific institutes. Due to lack of exposition space, objects are oftentimes moved to storage and are thus not accessible to the public. CT scanning enables museums and institutes to build a digital version of their collections, that allows objects to be explored virtually in 3D. At the same time, digital archiving and backup of valuable pieces provide additional security.
CT for bore core, soil, stone, and rock analysis in geoscience
Comet Yxlon CT systems support the oil and gas industry in their examination of ground structures, delivering e.g., information on crystal inclusions in bore core samples. With sophisticated tools like the Comet Yxlon flow analysis, geologists can quantify and analyze the properties of different porous and multi-component materials. Absolute permeability, tortuosity, pore size distribution, electrical resistivity, and thermal conductivity as well as their associated material properties can be calculated. During the analysis of stone and rock, e.g., volcanic stone, CT imaging shows the number of inclusions such as glass and crystals.
CT examination of cultural and archeological artifacts
Whether scientists want to check the authenticity or preservation condition of their historical treasures, find objects hidden in the artifacts, or explore ancient manufacturing techniques – computed tomography can help. As a non-destructive inspection technology, CT facilitates a damage-free analysis of archeological objects and even supports archeologists in the field with the examination of objects still embedded in the ground. Furthermore, the CT data of an original artifact can be used to generate a replica with 3D printing.
Micro-CT supporting pharmaceutical research
In the pharmaceutical industry, micro-computed tomography (CT) is an important method for product research and development, packaging, quality assurance, and quality control of drugs and medical devices.
Tablet analysis
- Tablet density analysis (porosity, pore size, distribution of materials)
- Micro-crack identification
- Examination of coating thickness, uniformity, and distribution of active ingredients
Packaging & sealing
- Seal integrity: Location of gaps and leaks
- Comparison of component variations from different suppliers
Product inspection
- Checks of closed/sealed packaging
- Defect detection
- 3D measurements
- Pre- and post-usage performance tests
CT-based quality control in plastic injection molding
With Comet Yxlon CT technology, manufacturers can address three major challenges in plastic injection molding and provide their customers with high-quality products – at the right cost in the right timeframe. First, using computed tomography instead of manual measurements for the initial articles can speed up the development process significantly. CT reduces the time-to-market and the risk of a delayed break even. Second, CT can ensure consistent production quality over time by using the data from automated CT inspections for process optimization. Finally, the integration of CT data into each product development and/or life cycle step helps prevent process chain failures.
CT metrology: dimensional analysis with scientific precision
Analyses and measurements of internal object structures have become very important, especially in the context of new additive manufacturing methods. Non-destructive testing with Comet Yxlon CT metrology CT scanners produces valuable volume data with comprehensive geometrical information for science and research. With an almost unlimited number of reference points, a complete part can be measured, while internal measurements for cavities and material interfaces in hybrids and assemblies can be added later.
Implantology: how CT improves design and quality control
Medical implants such as artificial hip and knee joints are complex products that must meet high-quality requirements. In the production and quality control of these medical devices, the use of CT inspection technology proves to be extremely helpful. Comet Yxlon CT systems use the most accurate metrology tools to reliably identify defects or design flaws, such as powder residues that can occur in additive manufacturing (AM). With an extensive portfolio of CT inspection systems – like the FF CT series – Comet Yxlon answers to implantology’s demand for flexible and partially modular systems.
Raising the bar for carbon bicycles with X-ray and CT
From bicycle forks and frames to handlebars and seat tubes – the quality of carbon-made bike parts has a significant impact on overall product safety. Comet Yxlon is a longstanding partner of the bicycle industry and provides X-ray and CT inspection systems for the entire manufacturing process from initial design to pre-production and post-production. Typical applications of X-ray and CT tech are the analysis of wall thicknesses, lamination, or glue points, to ensure that carbon parts are free from inclusions, cracks, or other irregularities.
Using Dragonfly deep learning
for faster, more reliable segmentation
AI and deep learning models offer numerous benefits for segmentation and CT image analysis in science and research. By accurately and efficiently identifying patterns, objects, and anomalies in large volumes of images, researchers can save time and effort. Additionally, the smart technology helps improve the reproducibility and reliability of image analysis by reducing operator bias – with significant potential for advancing scientific research in fields such as biology, materials science, and additive manufacturing.
Dragonfly helps you unlock the power of deep learning and extract more value from your images. It offers a wide set of tools for any image analysis requirement and allows you to adapt and refine your own DL models with wizard-based training.
