Determination of the optimal imaging parameters in industrial computed tomography for dimensional measurements on monomaterial workpieces

Abstract

Industrial computed tomography (CT) plays a key role in 3D coordinate metrology as an alternative to conventional coordinate measuring machines. CT measurement uncertainty depends on the setup parameters with which CT scans are performed. Currently, there is no established model that can describe the relationship between CT setup parameters and measurement uncertainty, and thus determine the optimal settings for a given measurement task. In practice, CT users choose setup parameters intuitively causing high variability in the measurement results. In this study, we enhance and validate an analytical method for optimizing imaging parameters. The proposed method is based on the assumption that minimizing the contribution of imaging parameters to measurement uncertainty corresponds to (1) maximizing image contrast and signal, (2) minimizing geometric blurring, and (3) minimizing image noise and CT artifacts. It also requires information about the workpiece nominal geometry and material composition. The proposed method calculates the optimal photon energy for precise surface determination, given the workpiece position and orientation. Tube voltage and prefilter are determined so that the resulting x-ray spectrum has an effective energy equal to the optimal energy and beam hardening artifacts are minimized. Tube current is chosen to maximize image signal, while avoiding blurring and excessive generated tube power. Exposure time is chosen as the shortest time that fully exploits the detector dynamics. The proposed method was validated by analyzing the standard deviations of CT measurements on a test phantom. An analysis of variance on the uncertainty components showed that the predicted parameters were globally optimal.

Review of high-speed imaging with lab-based x-ray computed tomography

“…In order to acquire a scan an operator has to choose a set of acquisition parameters that ultimately influences the acquisition time and image quality. There is no analytical method to determine the optimal scanning parameters [92], but there have been attempts at making the process more automatic [93]. The BSI BS EN ISO 15708 [32] and VDI/VDE 2630 [33] standards do not provide a protocol for parameter selection, leading to differences in acquisition parameters between operators for the same object [40].…”

Calculation Model of X-Ray Computed Tomography with Density Assessment Function

“…The choice of the maximum energy of X-ray radiation has a significant effect on the quality of reconstruction of images of cross sections in computed tomography [30]. The equation for selection of is similar to the equation specified in [30], (18) The right-hand side of Eq. ( 18) can be decreased or increased.…”

Review of the influence of noise in X-ray computed tomography measurement uncertainty

“…Signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) and contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) are the most frequent image quality indicators used in signal processing. Definitions for each are provided in numerous books and specification standards [1,[45][46][47] and, although they have multiple definitions, the most common are presented below.…”

“…Both SNR and CNR have been widely used to quantify, optimise and simulate noise in industrial XCT measurements [47][48][49][50][51][52][53][54][55]. CNR is suggested as a method of quantifying optimal scan settings in ISO 15708-2 [45].…”