Use of robotics in nondestructive inspection
Until very recently, nondestructive inspection of aircraft components at McClellan Air Force Base had been done in the traditional way. Ultrasonic inspections have been performed using hand-held equipment. X-ray inspections were performed using film radiography with the x-ray tubes being held on cradles, tripods, or suspended from pendant-operated or manual overhead crane-type fixtures. Implementation of advanced ultrasonic and real-time x-ray systems required that new equipment handling and parts handling methods be devised. Aircraft flight safety considerations demanded that neutron radiography be implemented as an inspection technique in order to find low levels of moisture and corrosion in the F-111 aircraft structure and aerodynamic surfaces. Traditional nondestructive inspection (NDI) methods require removal of suspect panels from the aircraft, including some panels that were not designed to be removed. The solution to these problems was to implement NDI systems that would allow inspection of intact aircraft. A new NDI facility especially designed for the latest in technology is under construction. It will house two large maneuverable x- and n-ray systems. The approx. 90-ft-span gantry robots will scan intact aircraft with real-time x-ray and near real-time n-ray systems. A unique floor/rail-mounted n-ray system will automatically inspect the F-111 aircraft engine bays.
- OSTI ID:
- 6778169
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-8711195-; TRN: 88-034018
- Journal Information:
- Trans. Am. Nucl. Soc.; (United States), Vol. 55; Conference: American Nuclear Society winter meeting, Los Angeles, CA, USA, 15 Nov 1987
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
AIRCRAFT
INSPECTION
ROBOTS
USES
CORROSION
NEUTRON RADIOGRAPHY
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING
REAL TIME SYSTEMS
REMOTE HANDLING EQUIPMENT
ULTRASONIC TESTING
X-RAY RADIOGRAPHY
ACOUSTIC TESTING
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
EQUIPMENT
INDUSTRIAL RADIOGRAPHY
MATERIALS HANDLING EQUIPMENT
MATERIALS TESTING
TESTING
420203* - Engineering- Handling Equipment & Procedures
420500 - Engineering- Materials Testing