Use of 3D mesh geometries and additive manufacturing in neutron beam experiments

PGAI-NT, a neutron-based element composition and structure analysis method, is well applicable to the non-destructive characterization of valuable artefacts, paleontological, bulk geological samples or to industrial reverse engineering. To set up the measurement geometry and scanning positions for items with unconstrained shapes, sizes, and matrices, accurate knowledge of the object’s geometry is a must. We applied portable structured-light 3D optical scanning or segmented neutron/X-ray tomography data to produce 3D meshes of the complex samples. Subsequently, 3D printing was used to fabricate detailed replicas of museum objects, as well as their gentle ad hoc sample holders, or produce custom parts of the Budapest PGAA instrument.