Step 1: Start aRTist

When you first start up aRTist, you will see the screen as in the image above (click on the
screenshot to enlarge it to full size). aRTist's main screen is divided into three parts:

The part list, at the left

The 3D scene view of the radiographic scene, in the center

The dock at the right, showing the image viewer with the radiographic image
The scene view can be freely rotated, scaled and shifted in space. Try this first:

Hold down the left mouse button over the empty space of the scene view and drag it. The
scene rotates

Hold down the right mouse button and drag. The scene view is scaled

Hold down the middle mouse button and drag. The scene view moves with the mouse

If you make any mistake during this tutorial, you can use the undo button
toolbar. Now you are ready to continue with the next step.

in the main

Step 2: Load a part and select it

We will use an example part in this step.

Click on the "open library" icon

in the main toolbar

Select ExampleParts/Tutorial/weld.stl

A weld appears in the scene, and a new entry appears in the part list

Click on the "zoom to selection" icon

to see the complete setup. You can also drag
the right mouse button over the scene to adjust the view.

Select the weld. This can be done either by clicking on the weld in the scene view, or by
selecting it in the part list

Light corners indicate the selection, and an arrow shows the manipulation axis

Now we will rotate and move the part using the mouse

Step 3: Align the part in the scene

Now in the transformation section below the part list, select the X axis. You can do this
by clicking on the axis button marked with X

Use the arrows

value field).

beside the "value" field to set the value to 10 (or type it into the

Click on the "rotate" icon

in the transformation settings

Now grab the upper corner of the weld in the scene view with the left mouse button, and
turn it by 90. The angle snaps in steps of 10.

Move the part away from the detector

The detector is now inside of the part, because both are originally centered at the origin.

Turn the view such that you can see the bottom side of the weld

Select the weld, click on the "translate" button

Set the value field to 1 mm

Use the mouse to place the weld 7 mm away from the detector. Watch the numeric
position while dragging the weld.

You should now arrive at the position shown below

Step 5: Set source-detector distance to 1 m

In the standard scene, the source is only 100 mm away from the detector. To correct this, the
source can be moved like any other part in the virtual setting. To set it at an exact distance, it is
more convenient to enter the value numerically.

Select the source by clicking on it in the part list.

In the transformation settings under "Position", set the z value to 1000 and press enter.
The source is moved to 1 m distance, and a big axis with a red ball at the original position
appears. This ball indicates the reference point. It is used as the center when a part is rotated.
Usually, it is in the center of the part.
Set also the "Reference Position"'s z value to 1000. The axis disappears.

To bring the source in view, select it and press the "zoom to selection" icon
should see that the axis now goes through the center of the source focal spot.

. You

To see the full scene again, click in the empty space of the 3D view to deselect all parts.
Then again, click the "zoom to selection" icon

Step 6: Construct a gas pore in the weld

Next we want to introduce a spherical cavity in the weld. You can load another CAD file to
define the geometry of the pore, but simple geometries can also be constructed directly.

Click on the "Solid geometry" icon

new window appears as in the image above.
You can press the dock icon

, or choose Modules/Solid from the menu. A

of this window to attach it to the dock (optional)

Select "ellipsoid" from the drop down list and mark the "X=Y=Z" checkbox to get a
sphere

Enter 2 for x. The settings for Phi and Theta control the resolution of the sphere. They
can be left at their default values.

Press OK to generate the sphere. It appears as a new part in the list.

Step 7: Place the gas pore insinde the weld

The new sphere is made of iron as a default and placed in the center.

Select the sphere in the part list

Again, click on the list entry in the material field. A drop down box appears which offers
several materials. Select air

Set the manipulation axis to z and the value to 1

Click on the "translate" button

Drag the slider beneath the axis. The spherical void moves into the weld. When it is
inside, it appears on the X-ray image as a bright spot like the image below

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Step 8: Make the flaw visible and save the configuration

Now that the pore is inside the weld, it can't be seen in the 3D view anymore. Let's improve this:

Select the weld

In the bottom row of the transformation settings, there is a button with a colorwheel and a
slider. Drag the slider to the left to make the weld transparaent

Click the color button

and select a pleasing color.

Adjust the 3D view until you have position, where both the weld and the pore can be seen
Congratulations! You have succeeded to build your first radiographic setup with aRTist
Now save your work as a project file

Click the "Save as" button

Choose "aRTist project" as type and save your settings as, e.g., Setup_Finish.aRTist
aRTist stores everything inside the project file including the CAD files. This means, you can pass
the project around to colleagues who will be able to open and reproduce your simulations
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You can download the ready project file for this tutorial here

aRTist project for this tutorial

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