Enabling X-ray CT based Industry 4.0 process chains by training Next Generation research experts

Informations projet

xCTing

N° de convention de subvention: 956172

DOI

10.3030/956172

Projet clôturé

Date de signature de la CE 27 Août 2020

Date de début 1 Mars 2021

Date de fin 31 Août 2025

Financé au titre de

• EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions

Coût total

€ 3 810 064,28

Contribution de l’UE

€ 3 810 064,28

Coordonné par

KATHOLIEKE UNIVERSITEIT LEUVEN
Belgium

Periodic Reporting for period 2 - xCTing (Enabling X-ray CT based Industry 4.0 process chains by training Next Generation research experts)

Période du rapport: 2023-03-01 au 2025-08-31

Résumé du contexte et des objectifs généraux du projet

First-time-right and zero-defect manufacturing of customized lot-size-one products are essential elements of the Industry 4.0 paradigm shift to reinforce Europe’s global leadership in manufacturing. X-ray Computed Tomography (CT) metrology has a key role to play in this transition, since it is the only known technology that can certify non-destructively the quality of internal complex structures, such as those produced by additive manufacturing or found in assemblies. However, CT largely remains an off-line technology, due to the unsolved trade-off between scan speed and scan quality, and especially the need for extensive expert user input. The xCTing project has therefore focused on significantly increasing autonomy, robustness and speed in CT metrology in order to support its transition towards a fully in-line quality assurance technology as required in Industry 4.0 environments. Meeting these challenges requires the integration of a broad range of interdisciplinary expertise, including physics, manufacturing, dimensional metrology, machine learning, as well as efficient and reliable big data analytics and visualization. In order to achieve the envisaged innovation breakthrough in the European industry, Europe is in dire need of young innovators who can combine this variety of competences with entrepreneurial skills. The xCTing project is a pan-European industrial- academic initiative committed to the provision of a unique and encompassing training environment required to foster a new generation of innovation-minded research engineers, that will act as catalysts in the further transformation of Europe’s manufacturing industry towards global technological leadership.

Travail effectué depuis le début du projet jusqu’à la fin de la période considérée dans le rapport et principaux résultats atteints jusqu’à présent

In total there are 15 early stage researcher (ESR) fellows have been recruited at the 10 partner institutions in the xCTing consortium, and each of them has enrolled as a PhD research at an academic institution. By the ending date of the project, there are in total 46 publications (of which 6 are joint publications by the ESRs), 3 open-access datasets and 1 patent application (https://xcting-itn.eu/publication-list-for-each-esr/). Three of the ESR fellows who joined the project late are still busy with research activities, while The ESRs on post have already presented 3 times their research project results, 5 ESRs are busy with finalizing their PhD manuscripts, and 5 ESRs have already fixed their PhD defence date, while two fellows turned out to be not capable of obtaining a PhD degree at the univeristy of registration.
The xCTing consortium has successfully executed in total 38 training modules organized in 8 consortium-wise training weeks, with both in-depth lectures and workshop of technical contents in computer tomography (XCT) and transferrable soft-skills.
The xCTing consortium has also carried out outreach activities via dissemination of research results publications in journal and presentations/posters on professional/dedicated conferences (e.g. 4 oral presentations by xCTing ESRs on iCT2023 Conference Fürth, Germany). A broad community has been reached as well through project website, posts on LinkedIn. A YouTube video is also produced by the ESR fellows from A to Z (https://youtu.be/OrEY5fiFTiM). There are in total 5 company visited have been organzied for all the ESR fellows and some the fellows have attended prominent industrial fair such as EMO and Control.

Progrès au-delà de l’état des connaissances et impact potentiel prévu (y compris l’impact socio-économique et les conséquences sociétales plus larges du projet jusqu’à présent)

The xCTing project has brought technological breakthrough and progress above the XCT SoA in the following areas:
1. Reducing CT expert user input.
ESR 1 project: Autonomous adaptation of CT acquisition parameters
ESR 2 project: 2D neural networks for artefact correction during CT reconstruction
ESR 3 project: 3D neural networks for artefact correction during CT reconstruction
ESR 4 project: Smart and autonomous feature detection and quantification for ensemble datasets and single ensemble members
ESR 5 project: Digital twin for CT analysis chains

2. Metrological traceability.
ESR 6 project: Determination of task-specific measurement uncertainty caused by geometrical misalignments
ESR 7 project: Determination of task-specific measurement uncertainty caused by physical effects
ESR 8 project: Autonomous in-scanning characterization, verification and condition monitoring of the in-line CT equipment

3. Faster CT Acquisition without quality loss.
ESR 9 project: A-priori-knowledge enhanced CT reconstruction for fast scanning strategies
ESR 10 project: A-priori-knowledge based determination of optimal scanning trajectories
ESR 11 project: Fast scanning strategies for conveyer-belt setups
ESR 12 project: Adaptive angle-selection for in-line CT

4. Integration in the manufacturing intelligence loop.
ESR 13 project: CT based process planning and build preparation for AM
ESR 14 project: CT based improvement of in-process monitoring capabilities
ESR 15 project: CT-based adaptive assembly chains

xCTing project roadshow banner

xCTing project brochure

update of xCTing project event on LinkedIn

Announcement of xCTing fellow on project website