Grant: Applied Research and Development Grants - Level 1

The Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) is requesting an ARD Level 1 grant to research, design and fabricate a high precision apparatus that will be used by an industry client to fully characterize the performance of their beta tested Backscatter Computed Tomography (BCT) system. Backscatter Computed Tomography inspects an object or structure by interrogating it with a beam of gamma-rays and measuring the backscatter radiation. Using the governing physics, an image of the internal structure is produced in a method analogous to a medical CT scanner (CAT scan). This is a technology platform that has the opportunity to serve a broad set of market sectors including aerospace, oil & gas and civil infrastructure. The CCNB was approached by Inversa Systems because of the college's overall metalworking knowledge and specifically because of their specialized knowledge in the fabrication of exotic metals such as tungsten. Dense materials are critical to the performance of the BCT system. A high precision characterization apparatus will be developed by the CCNB to act as a known reference in the BCT system, allowing other variables, such as machine tolerances, actuator resolution and temperature effects to be analysed. Once the system behaviour is fully understood, the software model will be refined to increase performance and the hardware design will be optimized to reduce production costs. CCNB students will be integrated into several phases of the project. Select students will be invited to the consultation sessions with the client as observers. Students from a machining and a metallurgy class will be invited to actively participate in the preliminary design sessions with the MITTC staff.