Can you CT scan a metal part and generate a CAD model that captures complex internal geometry?

Yes, as always, there are limitations based on part density and path lengths.

Can you detect microscale pores, cracks, or voids in metal samples and provide 3D defect analysis?

Yes, but it depends on the size of the pore, crack, or void and on the size of the sample. This affects the scanning resolution.

Can your micro-CT detect density-differential features such as air bubbles or voids within a fluid-impregnated part?

Yes, it can, as long as the part, fluid, gas mixture has a density difference of 10-15%.

Can you CT scan thick-walled injection-molded parts with embedded metal inserts (e.g., copper, brass) and detect gaps as small as 0.1 mm?

Completing measurements on multi-material parts is possible, and actually having more of the low-density material helps in the scanning process.

Can you CT scan an ultrasonically-welded sealed device without physically opening or cutting it?

Yes, that is one of the greatest benefits of CT. It is almost always non-destructive. The only cases are when the area of interest requires an extremely high resolution or the object does not fit into the machine due to its height.

Can you use CT to compare a known-good part against a potentially defective one to identify the root cause?

Without a doubt. This is one of our most common analysis types, called colormaps (or heatmaps), where we can compare an object to a CAD model or to other samples.

Can you scan an additive-manufactured (3D-printed) part in-process or post-build to validate internal quality and porosity?

Certainly, there are limits to the amount of high-density material we can scan, but porosity and inclusion analysis on additive manufacturing is something we are quite versed in.

What is the maximum part size your CT scanner can accommodate?

Approximately 30 inches tall x 24 inches wide, or roughly 800 mm by 615 mm.

What is the minimum feature size or resolution your CT system can reliably detect?

The smallest feature size range we can reliably detect between our 2 machines is 15-21 micrometres, which is 3x our smallest voxel size.

Does radiation from the CT scan risk corrupting or erasing data stored on electronic components (EEPROM, flash memory) inside an assembly?

There is a small risk when scanning memory devices because CT scanners use ionizing X-ray radiation. The level of risk increases with longer scan times and higher X-ray power settings. However, studies have shown that the exposure required to cause significant, unrecoverable damage is substantially greater than the scan durations and settings typically used by NPC.

ISO 11608-2 & ISO 11608-3 Inspection Services

Industrial CT Scanning and Dimensional Metrology for Needle-Based Injection Systems

Medical device companies need precise measurement data to get needle-based injection systems right—from early designs to final production. Whether it’s checking needle assemblies, cartridge systems, molded parts, or complete devices, accurate dimensional data proves the quality and consistency of what they make.

Nel PreTech steps in here. We use industrial CT scanning, dimensional inspection, and metrology to support ISO 11608-2 and 11608-3 requirements at every stage of development. Our ISO/IEC 17025 accredited lab gives engineering, quality, and regulatory teams the solid data they need for design verification, process validation, supplier qualification, ongoing production checks, and troubleshooting when things go wrong.

With advanced CT and precision metrology tools, we let teams see inside and out—capturing key details without cutting into precious prototypes, validation samples, or production parts. That saves costs and time, and supports better decision-making along the way.

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Supporting ISO 11608 Verification and Validation Activities

Needle-based injection systems contain critical features that directly influence functionality, assembly performance, manufacturability, and product quality. Generating accurate measurement data for these features often requires a combination of dimensional metrology and non-destructive internal inspection.

Nel PreTech supports organizations throughout the product lifecycle, including:

Product Development

Evaluate prototypes and identify dimensional variation early in the design process.

Design Verification

Generate objective measurement data to support engineering requirements and design outputs.

Process Validation

Assess manufacturing consistency and dimensional repeatability across production runs.

Supplier Qualification

Verify incoming components and compare supplier performance using objective inspection data.

Production Quality

Investigate dimensional concerns, assembly issues, and manufacturing variation before they impact customers.

Failure Analysis

Identify internal defects, assembly conditions, and dimensional contributors associated with quality events or field returns.

Industrial CT Scanning for ISO 11608 Applications

Industrial CT scanning creates a complete volumetric representation of a component or assembly, allowing engineers to evaluate internal and external geometries from a single dataset.

For ISO 11608-related applications, CT scanning provides insight that complements traditional dimensional inspection techniques.

Internal Dimensional Analysis

Measure critical features that cannot be accessed through conventional metrology methods.

Examples include:

Internal diameters
Hidden geometries
Internal interfaces
Feature-to-feature relationships

Assembly Verification

Evaluate component positioning and assembly integrity without disassembly.

Engineers can visualize:

Assembly stack-up conditions
Internal component relationships
Interface engagement
Alignment conditions

Wall Thickness Analysis

Assess wall thickness consistency throughout molded components and containers.

This information can be valuable during:

Design verification
Mold validation
Process optimization
Root cause investigations

Porosity and Void Characterization

Identify and quantify internal voids that may influence product quality or manufacturing performance.

CAD-to-Part Comparison

Compare manufactured components directly against CAD models using color mapping and deviation analysis.

This capability supports:

Tool validation
Supplier qualification
Design verification
Process improvement initiatives

Dimensional Metrology Services

Industrial CT scanning is often combined with traditional dimensional inspection techniques to create a comprehensive validation strategy.

Critical Feature Verification

Measure dimensions associated with product functionality, assembly, and manufacturability.

GD&T Inspection

Evaluate geometric dimensioning and tolerancing requirements, including:

Position
Profile
Concentricity
Flatness
Parallelism
Perpendicularity

First Article Inspection

Generate detailed reports that support:

Product launches
Process qualification
Supplier approval
Regulatory documentation

Statistical Measurement Studies

Support process validation and manufacturing improvement initiatives through repeatable measurement data and trend analysis.

Applications Throughout the Product Lifecycle

Research and Development

CT scanning and metrology provide valuable insight during early-stage development by helping engineers evaluate design concepts, identify dimensional variation, and compare prototypes.