Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.
Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.
(OP)
Dear engineering friends, I have a unique challenge and have come asking for help.
In 2008 I purchased a very unique, truely one of a kind car that began life in 1951. I have been doing research on it since I purhcased it and I feel that it is my duty to try and find out who designed it, what their vision was, complete the build (yes, it is 60 years old and has never been finished) and give recognition to the original designer/engineer.
Here is where I need help though. The car has an "unusual" trait, which I believe is a clue. The body is fiberglass, but there is a penny embedded in the body between several layers. I would like to know if, and what, tools exist that would allow me to get a good image of the penny. Primarily I need to see what year is on the penny. - I know the "easy" way to find this out would be to cut the penny out, remove the fiberglass material around it, and then put it back in. My problem with that is that the repair area will not match, as you can't get 60 year old fiberglass material, and it invalidates and compromises the integrity of the penny being "in" the car.
I'm open to ideas and suggestions on how to "see" inside the fiberglass and get an image of the penny.
Here is a link a article, published in December 2009, about the car and my research. http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com?p=837
In 2008 I purchased a very unique, truely one of a kind car that began life in 1951. I have been doing research on it since I purhcased it and I feel that it is my duty to try and find out who designed it, what their vision was, complete the build (yes, it is 60 years old and has never been finished) and give recognition to the original designer/engineer.
Here is where I need help though. The car has an "unusual" trait, which I believe is a clue. The body is fiberglass, but there is a penny embedded in the body between several layers. I would like to know if, and what, tools exist that would allow me to get a good image of the penny. Primarily I need to see what year is on the penny. - I know the "easy" way to find this out would be to cut the penny out, remove the fiberglass material around it, and then put it back in. My problem with that is that the repair area will not match, as you can't get 60 year old fiberglass material, and it invalidates and compromises the integrity of the penny being "in" the car.
I'm open to ideas and suggestions on how to "see" inside the fiberglass and get an image of the penny.
Here is a link a article, published in December 2009, about the car and my research. http://www.forgottenfiberglass.com?p=837





RE: Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.
Long shot: Heat the area around the penny a bit and take a picture of it with a digital camera.
Mike Halloran
Pembroke Pines, FL, USA
RE: Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.
RE: Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.
I've played with digital cameras and IR light and usually it is just a bright spot. Still, I can take a penny I have laying around, put it between some fiberglass and resin it in. Then I can play with your idea and see if it would work. As you say, long shot, but worth exploring/playing with. The worst I can do is be out a penny and the cost of some glass and resin. :)
Cory,
I checked with a doctor, and the x-ray won't do it. It will only show up as a "spot" on the screen or film.
A high school friend who is a veternarian has a portable ultrasound machine, but said it won't give good enough detail. He said an MRI might be able to do the job, but getting a 13' x 6' car body into a hospital, and/or finding a unit that is big enough to put it into probably won't happen anytime soon.
Great thoughts and ideas, both of you.
RE: Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.
What about gingerly heating the area (certainly not enough to do any damage) and using infrared thermography to watch the area as it heats? I understand this technique is getting much more sensitive; you might be able to make out the year of the penny as the ridge heat up.
Aaron Tanzer
www.lehightesting.com
RE: Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.
RE: Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.
Put it in the chair, strap it down and pay your dentist to use their X-ray machine.
RE: Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.
rp
RE: Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.
RE: Research help - "Seeing" inside an object.