Computed tomography for electronics manufacture quality control

Paul Boughton

A computed tomography (CT) option, allowing 3D inspection of components, is now available with the phoenix x|aminer 2D microfocus X-ray inspection system from the Inspection Technologies business of GE Measurement & Control.

The recently introduced five-axis phoenix x|aminer is particularly suitable for the rapid and accurate 2D inspection of soldered joints on a production line.

The new option will now allow quality control departments a simple and cost-effective method of carrying out 3D failure analysis for more complex geometry electronic assemblies, while retaining all the benefits of 2D inspection.

As such, it will find a wide application in companies engaged in electronics assembly, semiconductor manufacture and security-relevant segments such as the automotive industry.

The high tube power of up to 20 Watt on the target, of the phoenix x|aminer allows a very good sample penetration which is especially needed for high quality CT scans. Equipped with cost-effective image-intensifier-based CT and GE’s easy to use phoenix 3d|arv software for acquisition, reconstruction and visualisation of the CT results, the phoenix x|aminer offers both technological and economical benefit.

The new phoenix|x-ray inspection system will be of particular interest to the Asian market as it is the first system to be manufactured in China at the company’s ISO-certified, Changzhou manufacturing facility near Shanghai, using core German-made hard- and software components like tubes and generators.