Pinnacle X-Ray Solutions calls it the PSX Macro CT.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Bart Prorok, professor of materials engineering, calls it the game-changer.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Auburn University\u2019s Center for Additive Manufacturing acquired the $1.5 million X-ray CT through a 2016 grant from the National Institute of Standards and Technology.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cIn terms of this machine\u2019s particular capabilities, we are probably very unique in the world,\u201d Prorok said. \u201cThere are other units that have two X-ray guns inside, but they don\u2019t handle the range of X-ray energies that we can handle.\u201d<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The PSX Macro CT\u2019s customized digital radiology provides Auburn researchers unprecedented capability to monitor the quality of additively manufactured components not just after, but actually during fabrication.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\u201cThrough this machine, NIST has helped us add yet another invaluable component to what we feel is one of the premier additive manufacturing programs in the world,\u201d said Steve Taylor, associate dean for research in the Samuel Ginn College of Engineering.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The college has partnered with NIST, NASA, the U.S. Army, ASTM International and leaders throughout the aerospace and aviation industries to progress the development of standards and processes to bring additive manufacturing of mission-critical parts into commercial use.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n