Abstract: Nondestructive testing of heat exchangers (12), such as a radiator, measures the percentage of good bonds between air centers and cooling tubes based on natural or resonant frequencies of the exchanger (12). The exchanger (12) is excited by an audio speaker (38) and measured for a first natural frequency in the center thereof by an accelerometer (44). The natural frequency is indicative of the percentage of good bonds in the center portion of the exchanger (12) based on the stiffness thereof. The audio speaker (38) is moved to an antinode of a higher frequency mode to measure a second natural frequency indicating the percentage of bonds at the edges and corners thereof. The resonant frequencies are compared to standards to determine the actual percentage of good bonds.

Abstract: A method for automatically inspecting parts utilizing machine vision and system utilizing same are disclosed wherein a large variety of parts are inspected with a single optical setup at a vision station. Cameras and their respective illuminating lamps are located at the vision station. The inspection task requires multiple scenes or views to inspect part features such as inner and outer diameters, part height and concentricity. Initially, the system is taught which features of the parts are to be inspected by generating reference data. The reference data includes predetermined feature-detecting algorithms, model data defining typical features and limit data which is related to the allowable deviation of the features. The parts to be inspected are conveyed past the vision station. The signals from each of the active cameras are digitized and then processed by its own group of pipelined processors.