Analog Inductive Sensors Create an Optimum Distance between X-Ray Source and Target during Quality Control of Pipes

An x-ray system assesses weld seams in pipes.  X-ray systems are constructed to test whether or not the pipes used to transport oil or gas by sea or land will continue to be really impermeable, despite long-time period to temperature fluctuations and excessive pressures. The presence of an optimum distance between the surface of the pipe and the x-ray source is essential for imaging data quality.

An analog inductive sensor is appropriate for this application. Unlike digital sensors, which only offer an absolute value, these sensors capture the whole motion sequence. With no digitization, they have high resolution (in µm range) and are specifically appropriate for measurement of angles and gaps, figuring out motion and controlling travel smoothly.

These Sensors estimate the pipe carriage position and the distance between the pipe surface and the x-ray source (important to x-ray result quality) and they output a motion sequence as a stop voltage or current analog signal. As the gap between the sensing surface and the damping element changes, so does this signal.