Capture 3D Wins GE Aviation Inspection Challenge
The company won a cash prize as well as eligibility for a $35,000 developmental grant.
Capture 3D of Costa Mesa, California, won GE Aviation’s open innovation challenge covering methods of conducting high-speed, automated inspections of turbine airfoils. The challenge received a total of 51 entries from 48 participants in 18 countries.
To complete the challenge, Capture 3D used its ATOS Triple Scan III non-contact blue light 3D scanner, capable of measuring as many as 8 million points per scan. As winner of the challenge, Capture 3D received a $15,000 cash prize and is eligible for a $35,000 developmental grant to aid in collaborative development and refinement of their winning inspection technology.
“The challenge was a fantastic way to broaden our exposure to potential new players and new technologies,” says Wayne Spence, chief manufacturing engineer with GE Aviation. “Only two of the organizations that participated were previously known to us, and it’s inspiring—and eye-opening—to see such a broad variety of submissions from around the globe.”
Challenge participants had to present technology that could automatically inspect the blade portion of an off-the-shelf Victorinox paring knife (a low-cost proxy for turbine blades) in three minutes or less with accuracy of 10 microns and repeatability of 5 microns. In addition, participants had to demonstrate that their systems would work in a manufacturing environment with dust, vibration, and variability in lighting and temperature.
GE Aviation, call 877-432-3272 or visit geaviation.com.
