Rod Anode X-ray Tubes
Testing circumferential welds of aircraft parts or heat exchangers often requires special rod anode X-ray tubes with panoramic exposure. X-RAY WorX designs and manufactures application specific rod anode tubes with different beam geometries, diameters, and lengths.
Product lines: RA, RAC, RAC Superfocus
Highlights of the rod anode X-ray tubes
- High resolution digital and great flexibility digital radiography (DR) applications in automotive, energy, and aerospace industries according to EN 17636-2.
- Special reflection targets for application of digital flat panel detectors according to EN 17636-2.
- Panorama targets are available for film (RT), and computed radiography (CR) applications.
- Flexible rod anode solutions with up to 1.5 m length.
- Exchangeable tube heads with panoramic, reflection, or transmission target.
Aerospace industry
Energy industry
Process industry
Pipe inspection
Casting industry
Railway industry
Fields of application for rod anode tube
- Mechanical components
- Circumferential electron beam (EB) welds
- Rotor blades, turbine blades, aircraft turbines
- Electronic assemblies, sensors, actuators
- Titanium and aluminum castings
- Composite materials, bi-metal pipes
- Wind power stations
- Pressure vessels, gas turbines, tanks, valves, and fl anges
- Tube-to-tube-sheet welds of heat exchangers
- Circumferential weld seams
Product lines
Product line RA
Microfocus X-ray tube XWT-225-RA
Description
Product line RA is recommended for radiographic testing (RT), computed radiography (CR), and digital radiography (DR) in aerospace and energy industry.
Rod anodes of these X-ray tubes can be easily exchanged with standard transmission targets. Product line RA offers small diameters down to 8 mm as well as directional and transmission targets.
Applications
Highlights
- Easy exchange of rod anodes with standard transmission targets
- Special solution for semiconductor industry – High Energy transmission rod anode available
- Automatic calibration for optimum performance
- Different target types for high flexibility
- Easy maintenance with adjusted ready-to-use click-in cathodes and automatic tube venting
- Long-term stability due to application of first-class components
- Unlimited lifetime
Product line RAC
Microfocus X-ray tube XWT-225-RAC
Description
Product line RAC is recommended for radiographic testing (RT), computed radiography (CR), and digital radiography (DR) in aerospace, energy, and railway industry.
These X-ray tubes provide an internal cooling of target and sealings and are available with a length up to 100 cm. Additionally, targets can be exchanged between panoramic and directional targets.
Applications
Highlights
- Internal cooling of target and sealings
- Full support of new standard EN ISO 17636-2
- Flexible use for film (RT), computed radiography (CR), and digital radiography (DR)
- Automatic calibration for optimum performance
- Different target types for high flexibility
- Easy maintenance with adjusted ready-to-use click-in cathodes and automatic tube venting
- Unlimited lifetime
Product line RAC Superfocus
Microfocus X-ray tube XWT-225-RAC Superfocus
Description
High resolution rod anode tubes of product line RAC Superfocus are optimized for digital radiography (DR) applications. These X-ray tubes are recommended for radiographic testing (RT), computed radiography (CR), and digital radiography (DR) in aerospace and energy industry.
They feature an internal cooling of target and sealings; fully support the new standard EN ISO 17636-2, provide exchangeable target heads, and a length up to 150 cm at only 70 mm diameter. Additionally, panoramic and directional targets are available.
Applications
Highlights
- Internal cooling of target and sealings
- Full support of new standard EN ISO 17636-2
- Flexible use for film (RT), computed radiography (CR), and digital radiography (DR)
- Automatic calibration for optimum performance
- Different target types for high flexibility
- Easy maintenance with adjusted ready-to-use click-in cathodes and automatic tube venting
- Unlimited lifetime
Applications for rod anode X-ray tubes
Radiographic testing (RT)
Radiographic testing (RT) is an imaging procedure of non-destructive testing to represent differences in material. The density of a test object is mapped to an X-ray fi lm using an X-ray source. After processing the X-ray film, differences in material and defects can be identified.
Radiographic testing is applied in all areas of industry and specified by numerous codes and standards (e.g. DIN EN ISO 17636-1:2013 on radiographic testing of welds)
Computed radiography (CR)
Computed radiography (CR) with imaging plates is a digital imaging procedure, similar to the classical radiographic testing. Instead of X-ray film, a reusable phosphor imaging plate is used, that is read out by a scanner after exposure. The scanner generates a digital image of the radiographed object.
Computed radiography is used in all industries and is specified in numerous standards and codes (e.g. DIN EN 14784-1:2005 and ASTM E 2445:2005 on the classification of systems for industrial computed radiography).
Digital radiography (DR)
Digital radiography (DR) is the most recent imaging procedure of industrial radiography. It applies an electronic detector to capture the radiographic image. Using digital radiography the digital image of a test object is available in real-time and can be evaluated right after the exposure.
Digital detectors provide higher dynamics than X-ray film so that exposure times can be decreased. Often the magnification technique is used. Digital radiography of welds is described in the standard DIN EN ISO 17636-2:2013.
Technology of rod anode X-ray tubes
Cross section of microfocus rod anode X-ray tube
Advantages of using rod anode X-ray tubes
- Detection of defects in areas that are difficult to access
- Positioning of the focal spot closer to the area of interest
- Higher resolution imaging, due to small focus
- Single wall penetration (Higher magnification, no information overlap)
- Support of new standards for digital radiography
Schematic illustration ot target types for rod anode tubes