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Low-power digital imaging specialist  (Yarnton, U.K.) highlights a 3D X-ray imaging technology that the company says enables customers to obtain highly detailed images at a fraction of the cost and radiation dose of other products, with imagery available in minutes rather than hours. Adaptix’s tool, called NDT3D, targets nondestructive testing (NDT) for aerospace, combining cyber and physical systems to facilitate precise quality assurance plans for individual components.

“As a variety of industries move towards lightweighting, new methods of inspection are required to ensure components — whether traditionally manufactured, produced using composite materials or additive manufacturing techniques — are fit for purpose,” says Martin Holden, development engineering manager for NDT at Adaptix. “The Adaptix NDT3D inspection tool is highly mobile and can detect typical failure modes in complex composite structures, such as voids, weave variation, inclusions and needle porosity. Crucially, it can also be used early in the manufacturing process, reducing waste, manufacturing and inspection time, as well as maximizing valuable R&D resources.”

NDT3D was originally developed and matured for the medical sector. However, the low-power 3D imaging technology is capable of inspecting components — including dry-form composites — with a high degree of fidelity, opening up a wide variety of applications.

“Our recent work demonstrates that, as well as imaging small components, the technology can be scaled to image large items such as aircraft wings, doors and skins, all while maintaining the required resolution,” says Sarah Small, Adaptix CEO.

NDT3D technology is available in the U.K. and Ireland through Adaptix’s U.K. distributor The Sempre Group.