The Digital X-Ray and Advanced Metrology Group

This group specializes in producing unique, state-of-the-art Digital X-Ray and Advanced Metrology applications that meet the non-destructive inspection needs of our GE Customers.

Digital X-Ray Applications: Digital Radiography (DR)

GE is the leader in the use of Digital Radiography for industrial applications. Excellent image quality, increased speed of acquisition and increased production throughput are the trademarks of DR.

3Dxr Inspection Systems

Capable of providing DR and Computed Tomography inspections. Currently these systems are used to inspect all hollow high pressure turbine blades utilized in GE's jet engines.

Volumetric Computed Tomography (VCT)

Our latest innovation in Computed Tomography technology. VCT delivers wide coverage, 3D high resolution images.

Advanced Metrology Applications

Coordinate Metrology - Coordinate Measurement Machines equipped with both contact and noncontact probes, provide virtually unlimited flexibility in data-gathering capability.

Airfoil Inspection Module - provides speed, accuracy and reliability of dimensional inspection.

NDE Modeling - this process is used to create 3-Dimensional Computer Aided Design models directly from physical parts even when little or no additional design documentation exists.

The Ultrasonic Team

Involved through the entire life cycle of an aircraft engine part, developing inspection processes for the raw materials, new parts and parts in service with our airline customers. Together these inspection processes assure that critical components of the engine are capable of withstanding the stresses experienced during flight.

Conventional Ultrasonics

A large activity of Quality Technology's ultrasonic organization is the development and support of inspections used during the manufacturing cycle. Once a robust, new inspection has been established, the team transitions the process to manufacturing sites throughout the world. After transition, the team continues to support manufacturing by providing process expertise to enhance quality and productivity.

Acoustic Microscopy

Acoustic Microscopy is a high resolution ultrasonic inspection and imaging technique. The technology is used to characterize small material features. One of the best applications of this technology is measuring crack growth during fatigue testing, and helping designers determine mechanical properties of new materials.

Phased Array Ultrasonics

The Quality Technology team continues to advance the state-of-the-art for industrial ultrasound inspection by incorporating the most advanced Phased Array technology of GE Healthcare and GE's Global Research Center.

The NDE Imaging Group

The NDE Imaging Group has established a common software architecture and image processing toolkit for improved flaw assessment across all NDE modalities. We have introduced assisted defect recognition (ADR) inspection systems to reduce process variation.

The Eddy Current Team

The team uses the principal of electromagnetism as the basis for conducting examinations to detect minute cracks and flaws on the surface of rotating engine parts. GE engineers are creating the next generation technology that includes:

Our EC2000 eddy current system offers rapid inspection for a wide range of engine hardware. The system offers inspection speeds 10-20 times faster than manual systems. GE has demonstrated that it can successfully detect very small surface cracks using this method. Early detection of cracks is critical to the safety and longevity of engine components.

A Model Based Eddy Current Part Inspection Tool that uses electronic part definitions to automatically generate eddy current (EC) inspection programs.

Higher sensitivity EC and EC Arrays (ECAP) inspection capabilities with improved immunity to unwanted signals from edges and surface conditions.

Integrated sensors to automate the alignment and positioning of the EC system for inspecting complex geometries.

Volumetric Computed Tomography (VCT)

Our latest innovation in Computed Tomography technology. VCT delivers wide coverage, 3D high resolution images.

The Field Support Technology Group

A team of trained, professional troubleshooters that stand ready to help. 24 hours a day. Anywhere in the world. From the first phone call through problem resolution ... providing customer focused NDE solutions.

Driven by manufacturing or service induced anomalies, non-destructive inspections are developed to address and safely manage issues in the engine fleet.

Depending upon the nature of the problem, inspections are performed on aircraft engine hardware on a one-time basis, repetitive for the life of the part, or until the part is replaced. Although the primary in-service inspection methods are Eddy Current, Fluorescent Penetrant, Ultrasound and Visual, all nondestructive evaluation processes are considered.

Field Support offers onsite, engine-life management - emphasizing on-wing inspection to minimize service cost, downtime and disruption. We are a world leader in the development of nondestructive evaluation applications in support of our Commercial and Military customers' needs.

External GE Aviation Support

Manufacturing and Quality Technology has opened up its resources of talent and equipment at the Quality Technology Center. Companies outside GE Aviation can now capitalize on the vast wealth of Non-destructive Evaluation expertise at the Center.

Experts that have solved design, manufacturing, and operational problems for decades in the aviation industry are available to help your industry with its Non-destructive Evaluation challenges. Not only are local experts available at the Quality Technology Center, but we're also able to call on scientists and researchers throughout the GE world.

Some customers who have already benefited from this resource include the aircraft, medical, diesel engine, automotive, and casting industries, as well as museums and universities.