Ultrasound imaging optimizes vacuum bag leak detection

Perfect vacuum integrity is paramount before composite products can be cured; any leak in the vacuum bag can compromise final product quality and will require additional time for repair afterward. Distran (Zürich, Switzerland and Port Arthur, Texas, U.S.) introduces its ultrasound camera, the Ultra CE, as a fast and reliable leak detection method. Based on acoustic leak imaging (ALI) technology developed in 2013 by Distran Switzerland, this solution enables operators to visualize leaks from a distance by detecting the ultrasounds they emit.

In composites manufacturing processes, vacuum leaks can hinder product quality and production efficiency. Indeed, vacuum leaks create turbulence in their vicinity, which in turn, create audible sounds and ultrasounds. When ultrasounds propagate to the sensor, the Ultra CE’s 124 ultrasound transducers capture the ultrasound waves at different times (differing by less than a millisecond). These little time differences are processed by the device in real time to display the exact location of the sound source: the leak.

Attendees are able to the experience the technology firsthand and better understand how it pinpoint leaks. Experts are on hand to discuss how Distran’s clients leverage Ultra CE’s capabilities through real-life examples.