Fraunhofer Institute Presents inspECT-PRO Broadband Eddy Current Probe
Posted: 2019-5-31
Material inspection made easy: Fraunhofer scientists develop universally applicable broadband eddy current electronics.
Current developments in the field of industry 4.0 such as the digitalization of production plants and processes provide massive new challenges to nondestructive inspection technologies. Fraunhofer IZFP scientists in Saarbrücken have developed a novel eddy current platform, which is able to operate currently necessary interfaces. As a consequence, the platform can easily be integrated into digitization concepts. As part of a multimodal electronics series, experts from this Saarland research institute present the inspECT-PRO eddy current platform at the 33rd Control in Stuttgart from 7 to 10 May 2019 (hall 6, booth 6301).
Due to the high degree of automation of the technology as well as the comprehensive range of potential applications nondestructive material and defect inspection using eddy current methods has become indispensable for nondestructive inspection applications. With the inspECT-PRO eddy current electronics, our engineers and scientists are demonstrating an innovative inspection electronics concept at this year's Control: A module of the new electronics series that operates currently necessary interfaces such as the OPC-UA specification, thus, providing easy integration into production processes. "Our goal was to develop a broadband eddy current inspection electronics that can be used flexibly and adapted to customer requirements in a wide variety of applications," explains Dirk Koster, group leader and scientist at Fraunhofer IZFP.
Engineering features of the novel broadband eddy current platform
"Real-time" inputs and outputs can be used for process control. For easy integration into the data system of a production plant, the OPC-UA specification sends component-specific data such as evaluation results, batch number, date or other metadata to any information unit. This implies the comprehensive documentation of each component inspection for incorporation into the company's digitization strategy. The module, which is equipped with two independent hardware channels, can be used in single-frequency or multi-frequency operation with up to 32 test frequencies per channel. Coordinate signals are directly connected to the eddy current signals via a 3-axis interface. The module can be supplied as an OEM kit for integration into customer systems. Alternatively, a slide-in, top hat rail mounting, laboratory or mobile laptop system can be flexibly adapted.
Operating the electronics platform to inspect lightweight construction structures
Today, eddy current technology is used not only for standard applications in material inspection such as inspection of steel, aluminum or copper. With the increased demands on lightweight construction, the requirements placed on materials (e.g. CFRP) are also growing steadily. In order to test such weakly electrically conductive materials, however, a high test frequency is required. A broadband approach with test frequencies from 10 Hz to 112.5 MHz has been implemented so that both standard and new materials can be tested successfully. With high sample rates of up to 125 ksamples/s in single-frequency mode, even very fast test situations can be mapped. Due to the use of powerful FPGA and DSP components, the board is well suited for fast signal processing and evaluation.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the leading organization for applied research in Europe. Its research activities are conducted by 72 institutes and research units at locations throughout Germany. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft employs a staff of more than 26,600, who work with an annual research budget totaling more than 2.6 billion euros. Of this sum, more than 2.2 billion euros is generated through contract research. Around 70 percent of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s contract research revenue is derived from contracts with industry and from publicly financed research projects. International collaborations with excellent research partners and innovative companies around the world ensure direct access to regions of the greatest importance to present and future scientific progress and economic development.
Current developments in the field of industry 4.0 such as the digitalization of production plants and processes provide massive new challenges to nondestructive inspection technologies. Fraunhofer IZFP scientists in Saarbrücken have developed a novel eddy current platform, which is able to operate currently necessary interfaces. As a consequence, the platform can easily be integrated into digitization concepts. As part of a multimodal electronics series, experts from this Saarland research institute present the inspECT-PRO eddy current platform at the 33rd Control in Stuttgart from 7 to 10 May 2019 (hall 6, booth 6301).
Due to the high degree of automation of the technology as well as the comprehensive range of potential applications nondestructive material and defect inspection using eddy current methods has become indispensable for nondestructive inspection applications. With the inspECT-PRO eddy current electronics, our engineers and scientists are demonstrating an innovative inspection electronics concept at this year's Control: A module of the new electronics series that operates currently necessary interfaces such as the OPC-UA specification, thus, providing easy integration into production processes. "Our goal was to develop a broadband eddy current inspection electronics that can be used flexibly and adapted to customer requirements in a wide variety of applications," explains Dirk Koster, group leader and scientist at Fraunhofer IZFP.
Engineering features of the novel broadband eddy current platform
"Real-time" inputs and outputs can be used for process control. For easy integration into the data system of a production plant, the OPC-UA specification sends component-specific data such as evaluation results, batch number, date or other metadata to any information unit. This implies the comprehensive documentation of each component inspection for incorporation into the company's digitization strategy. The module, which is equipped with two independent hardware channels, can be used in single-frequency or multi-frequency operation with up to 32 test frequencies per channel. Coordinate signals are directly connected to the eddy current signals via a 3-axis interface. The module can be supplied as an OEM kit for integration into customer systems. Alternatively, a slide-in, top hat rail mounting, laboratory or mobile laptop system can be flexibly adapted.
Operating the electronics platform to inspect lightweight construction structures
Today, eddy current technology is used not only for standard applications in material inspection such as inspection of steel, aluminum or copper. With the increased demands on lightweight construction, the requirements placed on materials (e.g. CFRP) are also growing steadily. In order to test such weakly electrically conductive materials, however, a high test frequency is required. A broadband approach with test frequencies from 10 Hz to 112.5 MHz has been implemented so that both standard and new materials can be tested successfully. With high sample rates of up to 125 ksamples/s in single-frequency mode, even very fast test situations can be mapped. Due to the use of powerful FPGA and DSP components, the board is well suited for fast signal processing and evaluation.
The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft is the leading organization for applied research in Europe. Its research activities are conducted by 72 institutes and research units at locations throughout Germany. The Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft employs a staff of more than 26,600, who work with an annual research budget totaling more than 2.6 billion euros. Of this sum, more than 2.2 billion euros is generated through contract research. Around 70 percent of the Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft’s contract research revenue is derived from contracts with industry and from publicly financed research projects. International collaborations with excellent research partners and innovative companies around the world ensure direct access to regions of the greatest importance to present and future scientific progress and economic development.
