At the AMPP 2024 conference, 4D Technology presented its 4D InSpec, a portable interferometer designed for corrosion inspection in industrial applications. Austin Rider, Sales Engineer at 4D Technology, highlighted how the company’s expertise in optical metrology, initially developed for the James Webb Space Telescope, is now transforming industrial surface measurement.
From space to industry: 4D Technology’s optical metrology innovation
Founded in Tucson, Arizona, the company gained recognition as a key metrology provider for NASA, particularly for the James Webb Space Telescope. The company pioneered a polarization-based laser interferometry technique, which played a crucial role in ensuring the telescope’s optical components met the highest precision standards. Today, that same cutting-edge technology is empowering industries to measure and quantify surface corrosion, defects, and roughness with unprecedented accuracy.
4D InSpec: An advance in corrosion inspection
During the event, Rider demonstrated the 4D InSpec, emphasizing its ease of use and precision:
- The device captures a real-time 3D surface profile with submicron resolution.
- It automatically detects and quantifies corrosion pits without manual interpretation, reducing errors and improving inspection efficiency.
- With handheld portability, it allows inspectors to measure surfaces instantly and accurately, even in challenging environments.
The device is engineered for field use, enabling inspectors to perform high-resolution measurements in harsh industrial environments without the need for laboratory setups.
Taking a measurement with the 4D InSpec is really simple and really fast. […] It automatically finds and quantifies these corrosion pits instantly for you, with no guesswork for the inspector.
Austin Rider.
Global reach and industry impact
As a subsidiary of Onto Innovation, 4D Technology operates globally, delivering high-performance metrology solutions to aerospace, manufacturing, and energy sectors. By integrating NASA-grade interferometry into industrial applications, the company is setting a new benchmark for non-contact surface measurement.
For more AMPP 2024 content, visit our YouTube channel and LinkedIn profile.
Source and photo: Inspenet.