Inline automated manufacturing has quickly become more complex than ever. In order to ensure the quality of the product being manufactured, inline testing is now a critical part of the manufacturing process. Many different inspection techniques such as visual, electromagnetic, ultrasonic and many more are used in industry. Each method is intended for a specific purpose and has its own advantages and limitations.
Advanced inline ultrasonic testing allows manufacturing companies to monitor production parameters in real time, internal structure, bonding defects, the presence for foreign bodies and more. All of this information has to be acquired, processed and then displayed in a manner that a manufacturing company can take corrective measures or segregate the defective product. This interaction has to be done at very high speed and often the information has to be communicated to other machines such as PLCs, cutting or marking stations, conveyor systems and material handling manipulators in order for the corrective measures to be taken.