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Industrial CT, Hardwood Log Scanner Development |
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Abstract. It is generally believed that
non-invasive scanning of hardwood logs, e.g. computer tomography (CT)
scanning, prior to initial breakdown will greatly improve processing of logs
into lumber. This belief, however, has not translated into rapid development
and widespread installation of industrial CT scanners for log processing.
The roadblock has not been economic, so much, as it has been operational.
Currently available CT scanners were developed for medical applications,
where imaging needs are very different from those in hardwood log
processing. The latter is also very different from softwood log scanning
needs. In addition to the distinctions between medical and industrial CT
scanners, we may also need to make an important separation between low
resolution scanning of relatively small diameter logs and scanning of
high-value, large diameter material. An examination of CT scanner evolution,
including designs and limitations, indicates that vastly different scanner
technologies may be required. We are currently working with two separate
industrial scanning approaches. One technology is quite mature (axial
tomography) and is operating in the explosives-detection arena. It can scan
relatively small diameter material for long duty cycles. Ongoing efforts
using this approach are leading to a mill feasibility study early this year
and a possible prototype development project following a good feasibility
report. Where higher x-ray energies are needed for material penetration,
tangential scanning is a viable alternative to traditional axial tomography.
It offers simple mechanical operation, fast scan speeds per volume,
relatively low power requirements, and no image artifacts. Initial work has
demonstrated tangential scanning's feasibility for log scanning.
Daniel L. Schmoldt, Nand Gupta (Omega Technologies), Sondre Skatter (InVision Technologies), and Sauveur Chemouni (InVision)
Current and Future Work
Technology Transfer Efforts
Last Modified:
06/13/07
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