| Feature | Rank | Explanation
|
| DESIGN
|
| Basic Design | | General functionality for easy scan coverage of area of interest
|
| 1 | Not applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 2 | Limited for aircraft applications
|
| 3 | Adequate but could be improved for aircraft applications
|
| 4 | Good, generally applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 5 | Ideal, meets all requirements for aircraft applications
|
| Mount Type | | Implementation. relocation ease. stability
|
| 1 | Not stable, fails often during scan
|
| 2 | Fails occasionally during scan
|
| 3 | Adequate but could be improved for aircraft applications
|
| 4 | Good, generally applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 5 | Ideal, meets all requirements for aircraft applications
|
| Sensor Holder, Gimbals Design | | Ability to accommodate various sensor sizes and maintain
sensor perpendicularity
|
| 1 | Not applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 2 | Limited for aircraft applications
|
| 3 | Adequate but could be improved for aircraft applications
|
| 4 | Good, generally applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 5 | Ideal, meets all requirements for aircraft applications
|
| Couplant Feed | | Ultrasonic pulse-echo or resonance testing only
|
| 1 | Not applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 2 | Limited, couplant sprayed or wiped on
|
| 3 | Adequate but could be improved by better design
|
| 4 | Good, automatic feed with few problems
|
| 5 | Ideal, automatic feed with no problems
|
| Scanner Working Distance Hight | | Distance needed to scan between vertical obstruction and
aircraft
|
| |
| 1 | Greater than 48 inches
|
| 2 | Between 24 and 48 inches
|
| 3 | Between 12 and 24 inches
|
| 4 | Between 6 and 12 inches
|
| 5 | Less than 6 inches
|
| X-Y Axis Resolution |
| 1 | Greater than 0 50 inch
|
| 2 | Between 0 35 to 0 50 inch
|
| 3 | Between 0.20 to 0 35 inch
|
| 4 | Between 0 05 to 0 20 inch
|
| 5 | Between 0 01 to 0 05 inch
|
| PORTABILITY
|
| Scanner Weight |
| 1 | Over 30 pounds
|
| 2 | Between 15 to 30 pounds
|
| 3 | Between 5 to 15 pounds
|
| 4 | Between 1 to 5 pounds
|
| 5 | kinder 1 pound
|
| Ruggedness | | General use of scanner without failure of machanical components
|
| 1 | Not applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 2 | Limited for aircraft applications
|
| 3 | Adequate but could be improved for aircraft applications
|
| 4 | Good, generally applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 5 | Ideal, meets all requirements for aircraft applications
|
| Deployment Ease | | Time from off the shelf to start of scan or relocation
|
| 1 | Greater than 1 hour
|
| 2 | Between 30 to 60 minutes
|
| 3 | Between 15 to 30 minutes, 5 minutes relocation
|
| 4 | Between 10 to 15 minutes, 2 minutes relocation
|
| 5 | Under 10 minutes, 1 minute relocation
|
| Computer Hardware | | Portability of total system. scanner. computer. motor controller etc.
|
| 1 | System components greater than 100 pounds
|
| 2 | System components greater than 50 pounds
|
| 3 | System components between 25 and 50 pounds
|
| 4 | System components between 10 and 25 pounds
|
| 5 | System components less than 10 pounds
|
| Motor Controller | | Physical size and weight considerations
|
| 1 | Not applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 2 | Limited for aircraft applications
|
| 3 | Adequate but could be improved for aircraft applications
|
| 4 | Good, generally applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 5 | Ideal, meets all requirements for aircraft applications
|
| ARTICULATION
|
| Complex Shapes | | Scanner is usable on curvatures and irregular shapes
|
| 1 | Scanner can only be used on flat surfaces
|
| 2 | Scanner can only be used on curvatures greater than 10 feet radius
|
| 3 | Scanner can only be used on curvatures greater than 5 feet radius
|
| 4 | Scanner can be used on compound curvatures greater than 1 foot radius
|
| 5 | Scanner can be used on all aircraft structures
|
| Surface Conditions | | Surface roughness. obstructions, raised rivets. raised lap joints
|
| 1 | Scanner operates on smooth surfaces only
|
| 2 | Scanner cannot operate over lap joints
|
| 3 | Scanner can operate over or around lap joints but not raised rivets
|
| 4 | Scanner can operate over or around raised rivets
|
| 5 | Scanner can accommodate all conditions
|
| PERFORMANCE
|
| Speed of coverage | | Time to scan 2 square foot area on fuselage
|
| 1 | Greater than one hour
|
| 2 | Between 30 to 60 minutes
|
| 3 | Between 15 to 30 minutes
|
| 4 | Between 5 to 15 minutes
|
| 5 | Less than 5 minutes
|
| Accuracy | | Scanner sensor location with respect to increment spot size (0.1 inch)
|
| 1 | Over 5 spot sizes (greater than 0.5 inch)
|
| 2 | 5 spot sizes (0.5 inch)
|
| 3 | 2 spot sizes (0.2 inch)
|
| 4 | 1 spot size (0.1 inch)
|
| 5 | Less than one spot size (< 0.1 inch)
|
| Problems | | Factors that limit use of the scanner for some applications
|
|
| 1 | Numerous and serious for aircraft applications :
|
| 2 | Serious but can be remedied for aircraft applications
|
| 3 | Annoying but can be improved for aircraft applications
|
| 4 | Minor
|
| 5 | None
|
| USABILITY
|
| Ease of Scan for Examiner | | Operator effort to scan an area greater than 1 square foot
|
| 1 | Effort not tolerable for aircraft applications
|
| 2 | Effort is tiring, tedious, but tolerable
|
| 3 | Effort requires continuous operator attention, labor intensive
|
| 4 | Effort requires occasional operator attention, not labor intensive
|
| 5 | Effort is not required
|
| Vertical Obstruction Clearance Needed | | Clearance needed to operate the scanner with the examiner
conducting the scanner.
|
| 1 | Greater than 48 inches
|
| 2 | Between 24 to 48 inches
|
| 3 | Between 12 to 24 inches
|
| 4 | Between 6 to 12 inches
|
| 5 | Less than 6 inches
|
| SOFTWARE
|
| Ease of Use for Examiner | | Experience and intuitive operation of software execution of commands
|
| 1 | Difficult to execute, need to remember steps, commands etc.
|
| 2 | Steps are not clear and confusing
|
| 3 | Adequate but need to remember some commands
|
| 4 | Good, generally needs 1 day of training
|
| 5 | Very intuitive, self explanatory steps to follow
|
| Ease of Setup Input Parameters | | Examiner ease to define scan area. scan limits. scan increments
file names etc.
|
| 1 | Difficult, need to run different programs etc.
|
| 2 | Separate programs for scanner and image construction
|
| 3 | All input parameters must be typed in from key board
|
| 4 | Good, default values easy to change at graphical user interface
|
| 5 | Ideal, macros, values easy to change as desired
|
| Data Acquisition Characteristics | | Fast. high resolution data acquisition capabilities
|
| 1 | Not applicable for aircraft applications
|
| 2 | Less than 8 bit resolution
|
| 3 | 8 bit resolution, 286 PC or equivalent CPU
|
| 4 | 8 bit resolution, 386 PC or equivalent CPU
|
| 5 | 16 bit resolution, 486 PC or equivalent CPU
|
| Image Display | | Large screen. 16 color palette or better. proportional XY image
|
| 1 | Monochrome screen
|
| 2 | 8 color palette, image XY not proportional, 10 inch or less screen
|
| 3 | 8 color palette, image XY proportional but small, 10 inch or less screen
|
| 4 | 16 color palette, image XY proportional, large screen
|
| 5 | 256 color palette, image XY proportional and large, 15 inch screen
|
| Imaging and Data Processing | | Advanced image processing features was not rated. the system
real-time C-scan imaging capabilities were ranked
|
| 1 | No real-time C-scan image
|
| 4 | Real-time image but post processing necessary for final image
|
| 5 | Real-time image for immediate interpretation of results
|
| Hard Copy Capability Ability to provide immediate hard color copy of results
|
| 1 | No hard copy capability
|
| 4 | Hard copy only after data and image processing
|
| 5 | Immediate hard copy capability
|
| Operator Training for Experience Level | | Training for ASNT Level recommended by vendor when system is
procured
|
| 1 | Greater than two weeks for experienced Level II
|
| 2 | 2 weeks for Level II, or Level III
|
| 3 | 3 to 5 days for Level II or Level III
|
| 4 | 2 to 3 days for Level II or Level III
|
| 5 | 1 to 2 days for Level II or Level III
|
| NDI Mode Support | | Modes supported can be eddy current. ultrasonic pulse-echo. and
resonance bond testing
|
| 3 | Only one mode supported
|
| 4 | Two modes supported
|
| 5 | Three Modes supported
|
| COST
|
| Cost Hardware & Software |
| 1 | Over $200,000
|
| 2 | Between $100,000 and $200,000
|
| 3 | Between $50,000 and $100,000
|
| 4 | Between $25,000 and $50,000
|
| 5 | Less than $25,000
|