Method and apparatus for localized digital radiographic inspection

A system for radiographic inspection of airfoil structure on aircraft, said system comprising:

• a radiation source located on one side of said airfoil structure;
• an X-Y scanning device located on an opposing side of said airfoil structure, said X-Y scanning device being positioned to receive radiation from said radiation source and having a carriage that is moveable along two mutually orthogonal axes;
• a digital radiation detector that converts impinging radiation into electrical signals, said radiation detector being mounted on said carriage so as to be moveable relative to said airfoil structure along said two mutually orthogonal axes;
• and
• means for processing said signals and generating images from said signals.

A method for radiographic inspection of airfoil structure on aircraft, said method comprising:

• locating a radiation source on one side of said airfoil structure;
• locating an X-Y scanning device on an opposing side of said airfoil structure, said X-Y scanning device being positioned to receive radiation from said radiation source;
• mounting a radiation detector on said X-Y scanning device so as to be moveable relative to said airfoil structure along two mutually orthogonal axes;
• causing said radiation source to emit radiation so as to irradiate said airfoil structure and said X-Y scanning device;
• and
• operating said X-Y scanning device to move said radiation detector in a predetermined raster pattern while said radiation source is emitting radiation.