New Ultrasonic Era – Non-Contact Robotic Testing
Automated manufacturing is booming – but what about quality assurance? At this year’s automatica, XARION Laser Acoustics presented an innovative solution for non-destructive testing (NDT) that enables fully automated, robot-assisted quality inspection. Quality inspection belongs in the automation process – and with the XARION solution it’s easy!
Ultrasonic testing has been a proven method for detecting internal defects in safety-critical components for decades. However, until now, it has come with a catch: conventional ultrasound requires coupling media like water or gel – a clear obstacle to automation. XARION has changed that.
Using a unique technology based on laser-generated ultrasound and optical detection via a contactless microphone, XARION offers a completely new, coupling-free inspection method. The system is fully robot-compatible and enables inline ultrasonic testing – fast, clean, and completely automated.
XARION’s compact inspection head combines the laser and sensor in a single unit and can be mounted directly on a robot arm. Testing is performed from one side – no rear-side access required. Due to real-time data processing, the system detects weld defects, material inconsistencies, and internal flaws directly in the production process – even for complex 3D component geometries.
Typical applications include: Spot weld inspection in car body assemblies, battery weld seam inspection, quality testing of semiconductors and electronic components, and testing of fiber-reinforced plastics (composites).
Key system features include:
- Contactless ultrasonic testing without coupling media
- Laser-based excitation, optical detection
- Seamless robotic integration for automated processes
- Inline-capable NDT for industrial production environments
- No surface preparation required
- Suitable for complex geometries and various materials
- Flexible scanning along user-defined 3D paths
- Fast, clean, and reproducible inspection resultsConclusion:
With XARION, ultrasonic inspection becomes more flexible and automatable than ever – and fits any robotic solution.
For more information: www.xarion.com
