Throughout my career inNDT consulting, there’s one question that gets asked more frequently as the years go by: “Can our operation change to Computed Radiography?” This question is a bit like asking how a piano works. The basic functions are easily understood, but the actual motions of operation are much more complicated. Like a piano, Computed Radiography has lots of moving parts that are unseen by even a skilled user. Parts that spark little interest from the chair in front of the keyboard. I am no musical master or even a musical novice, however, I can shed light on the many moving parts of Computed Radiography.

To answer the common question; yes, if you are willing to put in the groundwork, your operation could likely switch from traditional Film射线照相to Computed Radiography (CR) with very little changes. That is primarily due to the similarities between film and CR. Unlike other digital modalities, the exposure medium (film replacement) is flexible and fits into cassettes. The exposure technique is also similar, though shot times tend to be shorter. The ‘retrieve and process’ stage also bears some likeness to traditional film since both create a type of ‘latent image’ that must be processed before results are produced.

There are some hidden factors in CR program administration, but radiographic results mostly come down to the skill of the technician performing the test. CR is even capable of producing results aligned with film, assuming the appropriate equipment and settings are used. Herein lies the two largest hurdles with CR: equipment selection and technician training.

我选择哪种计算的射线照相系统？

并非所有计算的射线照相设备都是平等的。事实上，CR设备通常考虑到特定用途。这意味着CR设备上的选项可以从品牌到品牌和模型变化。有些是设计的最高分辨率，这使得它们完美地适用于特定的工作，但可能会限制他们在其他应用中的有用性。其他单位是为了易于使用而设计的最小培训。一个使重复性简单的想法，但也可以带走重要的系统设置，限制其有用性。

哪个系统是正确的吗?这是另一个sim卡ple question with a complicated answer. Only an appropriately qualified NDT consultant can answer that question and only after seeing your operation. High resolution and little technical training sounds like an ideal option, but those don’t exist on just one unit.

像生活中的大多数事情一样，有权从一个因素做出权衡。高调节性选项一般意味着更多培训来学习其用途。可调节性很少可能对技术人员的培训较少，而且还限制了有用性。同样，可移植性通常对设备的物理尺寸进行限制，可能限制所产生的图像的大小。设备选择取决于许多因素，所有这些因素都扮演了一个小但明显的部分。选择错误的CR扫描仪可能意味着有效操作和六位纸重量之间的差异。

技术人员需要在计算的射线照相系统中进行适当的培训

无论您选择的扫描仪如何，培训都必须。制造商以各种成本提供培训套餐，我认为是绝对的必要性。这些封装通常概述正常操作，支持选项，基本校准和设备护理。他们不被视为全包。圆满的补充培训计划是通知雇主具体操作的技术人员。

These programs, unfortunately, are scarce in the industry. My experience tells me that there are only a few NDT providers in my area who have an internal training program on CR like Braun Intertec. It simply costs too much to develop and implement for many companies to consider. Most NDT providers depend on the technicians to sort out their own training in a ‘throw them to the wolves’ type of experience. I know all of this because that’s how I got my first experience in CR. The site had a CR system and I was dispatched to learn the unit on my own. If that sounds shocking, just know that service providers are doing this every day while expecting the client to pay the bill.

由于这种非结构化系统，一些技术人员已经陷入了挫折，在那里他们告诉客户无法完成CR。实际上，如果他们有适当的培训，可以实施CR。程序结构中的这种差距越来越多的制造商，构造函数，铸造件和其他曲线背后的制造商。虽然该行业以新的方向起飞，但那些服务提供商将客户留下古老的技术，古老的技术变得过上。

NDT Service Providers are Often the Best Option

Consulting can be a good start to a sound CR program, but many of my readers hire a service provider, like Braun Intertec, to manage their NDT. In that situation, a little research can go a long way. If you build equipment to a code, it will either specify NDT requirements or give you another code for NDT. It may take a few steps, but you’ll find all the requirements for certification, CR system qualification, and system maintenance. Anyone already running an NDT program only needs to research documents you should already know. Whether you’re a client or an NDT service provider, we have a responsibility to our customers and end users to provide a compliant product. Anything less is unacceptable.

Computed Radiography Webinar

Interested in learning more about the transition from traditional film to computed radiography? Click the link below to sign up for a webinar with the author, Wesley Soape.