Post by inspire AG

Accurate measurement of coating thickness is one of the big challenges in thermal spraying and other coating processes. Modern 3D scanners promise new possibilities for inspecting coatings economically, non-destructively, and with high spatial resolution. By overlaying scans from before and after treatment, coating thickness can be derived. However, this application imposes very high demands on the registration method used to align the scans: Thin coatings call for exceptionally accurate alignment, rough surfaces cause large noise, and defective scans can easily introduce bias. In collaboration with Oerlikon Metco and the Advanced Manufacturing Laboratory - ETH Zürich, our researchers could solve the problem by co-aligning both scans via a proxy surface. Measurement errors below 1μm are possible with this technique, even with noisy data and partial scans. By automating the measuring procedure, this research enables ⚙️ 100% inspection of parts, ⚙️ continuous process monitoring, and ⚙️ more effective research on coating processes. Published in Robotics and Computer-Integrated Manufacturing. https://lnkd.in/esSbnQqz Authors: Simon Dünser, Ivo Aschwanden, Raamadaas Krishnadas, Majid Nabavi and Markus Bambach.