RADIOSCOPY eas or defects in a part show up as lighter

How x-ray inspection works Radioscopy (also called real-time radi-

ography) is a nondestructive test (NDT)
parts on the screen.

Radioscopy is a well-established method

method whereby an image is produced of NDT having applications in
electronically rather than on film so that ► automotive,
very little lag time occurs between the ► aviation and aerospace,
item being exposed to radiation and the ► nuclear power plants,
resulting image. In most cases, radio- ► electronics,
scopic images are produced by a screen ► length & spiral welded pipes,
coated with a material that illuminates ► food,
when exposed to x-rays. The more x- ► and shipyards and -builders
rays that reach a part of the screen, the among others.
brighter that part of the screen becomes.
The x-ray sensitive coating on the screen The use of radioscopy is increasing due
forms the x-ray image much as the grains to a reduction in the cost of the equip-
of silver form the image in film radiogra- ment and resolution of issues such as
phy. The image produced is the opposite the protection and storage of digital im-
of the negative image produced in film ages.
radiography. In other words, thinner ar-

RADIOSCOPY VERSUS RADIOGRA- ally positioned manually. Once the part

PHY SETUP
The main difference between radiogra-
phy and radioscopy is the intended out-
put of the system. Radiography systems
are designed to provide static, film or
plate based single images, while radios-
copy systems provide dynamic, real-time
moving images. Because of the intended
output, the setups of the two systems
vary somewhat. In a radiographic setup,
there is an x-ray tube and detector, which
is film or reusable plate. There is also a
generator, and sometimes two genera-
tors, if the tube is bipolar. There is also
a cooling pump to cool the tube. In a
radiographic system, the object is usu-
Radioscopic setup
is in place, the film or plate is exposed.
If film is used, it is developed, and can
be kept as hardcopy documentation or
scanned for digital storage. Reusable
plates are scanned directly to digital for-
mat. Although it is possible to automate
radiographic inspection, it is usually not
cost effective. Radioscopic systems use
a single generator and unipolar tubes.
They also use real-time detectors, such
as image intensifiers, digital flat panel de-
tectors or linear diode arrays. Because
they can see the parts in real time, the
parts are positioned using a robotic ma-
nipulator, allowing movement of the part
during exposure. Exposure can be as long
or short as necessary to inspect the part.
MAXItouch TM
controller MAXIsafety TM
safety package

RS-232C
Serial Port

Estop
Switches

- MAXItube TM MAXIcoolTM W
Door
Switches
MAXIvoltTM Unipolar Water Cooler
High Voltage
Generator (-) Monitor
160, 225kV Warning
Horn
Frame
Buffer

X-Ray On
Lights
MAXIvision TM

intensifier
image

Robot PC Image Acquisition,

Manipulator Noise Reduction and
Image Processing
Camera

Frame
CCD

Grabber

Robot Control

Jacobsen Real-Time
X-Ray Machinery Inc .

2 MAXIxray™