My x-ray machine

Hi guys, I entered my portable x-ray machine in a laser cutter contest. Could you please vote for it?

BuildLounge » Build, break, modify, make



After that feel free to ask your facebook friends to do so as well



Essentially, this is a project I've been working on for two years. I've written the whole thing up on my site at http://www.teravolt.org/x-ray-machine/


If you have any questions, feel free to fire away.

Wish your site worked, I'll check it out later. Looks really awesome, I voted on it for ya

Looks like you're tied for first too, heh

Gah! The internets nuked my server!

It should reset in an hour or so...

grenadier said:

Gah! The internets nuked my server!

Click to expand...

Didn't have enough bandwidth for the traffic? :crackup:

ARGLaser said:

Didn't have enough bandwidth for the traffic? :crackup:

Click to expand...

No, the bandwidth is fine. Not sure what happened...

That's really, REALLY cool. I wish I had the know-how to do something like that... and the funds. That and a safe place to do it.

All that said, I'm very impressed. But aren't you scared you will get the same thing Marie Curie got?

Sites down.... but there's info here if you like...

Contest Entry: Home Built Portable X-Ray machine - BuildLounge » BuildLounge

I looked at the other entries before I voted. They did not come close.

It is a lot easier to work with/around/build portable X-ray units than it is to shield oneself from the high energy gamma radiation that Roentgen and Curie were exposed to. Not to mention the contamination nightmares those early researchers were in. They didn't know what radiation was, or even that the common radioactive elements were toxic (radiation aside)!

With an x-ray generator, the radiation stops being emitted once you flip the switch. Typically, energy levels are around or lower than 75KeV which is easily shielded with thin steel or better. A simple Radium watch hand emits gamma rays which can easily penetrate 6" of lead. Sure the quantity of radiation is inverted but the quality is important as well. Curie used to pick up slabs of high concentration radium ore which would be a challenge to shield today. Modern radiological personal shielding aparatus (lead vests, etc) would not have made a dent in the radiation she was exposed to.

-------------------------------------

Cool project. I had wanted to make one for a while from some simple 2X2 Tubes I had around, but I couldn't source a DC HV power supply which would produce at least 30kV for under $100. I can't access your site yet though, it's still down for me, but I'll check back in again.

What psu are you using for it? Are you using a commercial x-ray tube or just an evacuated tube of some sort? What is the peak emission voltage (KeV out = KV in at max load)? What current is it running at?

Edit: Oh nice I see you are using a phosphor screen as a viewer. I was wondering where you were sourcing the xray film. You do have to be more careful though with the direct method as the exposure times (for personel) are massively larger. With the film based approach you only need enough irradiation time to produce a clear image on the film. With the phosphor screen approach you need a continuous source of much higher intensity to produce a clear and bright image.

I got my site working again!

As for the intensifying screen, the pictures are captured remotely via a time-delay camera. This limits my radiation exposure.

Made an xray machine before using a Cold cathode/neon leak tester and an old radio tube. It worked and put out a very minimal glow on a ZnS screen. Nothing like your tube produced. Curious, your tube was a commercial unit? You have a nice round focal point!
Good job!
Be aware that, and I am sure you are aware, that an unmetered X-ray exposure can and will burn you severely. Much like a bad sunburn, only that the burn never heals properly.
On analytic xray machines, there have been cases where people have lost fingers from receiving several grays worth of X-rays on a hand...for example. Backscatter can case blindness as well.
Building an X-ray machine is something you do when you have proper measuring equipment (Dosemeter, GM counter, Ion chamber meter..etc) and large lead shields.
It is NOT a basement project for amateurs!

It looks like I sparked an internet flamefest on a number of websites...

Let me make this clear; x-rays are very dangerous if they aren't handled properly. So, I spent a few hours writing this up in order to prevent some people from, well... killing themselves.

Radiation Safety | Teravolt.org


And yes, my tube was a commercial one. I've collected quite a few of them in all sorts of shapes and sizes. Just sold 2, but I'm keeping my best ones for later experiments.

Amazing project, most of the others dont even compare. I voted for you , you are in 1st place.


I see someone also put a Laser Harp.

Yes, your project is amazing! I like the idea and it's extremely practical.
I was pretty sure that you already knew the dangers of X-rays, but wanted to highlight / expose unfamiliar to X-rays to some of the dangers posed when dealing with them.
Fluoroscopy in the past has resulted in some really nasty burns (before CCD sensors were introduced.)
X-ray Burns

Seoul_lasers said:

Yes, your project is amazing! I like the idea and it's extremely practical.
I was pretty sure that you already knew the dangers of X-rays, but wanted to highlight / expose unfamiliar to X-rays to some of the dangers posed when dealing with them.
Fluoroscopy in the past has resulted in some really nasty burns (before CCD sensors were introduced.)
X-ray Burns

Click to expand...

:scared: That is an interesting site that you linked too. I urge those with a weak stomach not to venture too far from the linked thread.