Please tell me this isn't an xray machine? - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / testgear

author: Joebeazelman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2025, 11:38:23 pm
content: A terrifying video just showed up on my stream from Rewa Tech. Are they really selling an X-Ray inspection device:https://youtube.com/shorts/9xwVL_8T4qE?si=tDW46p8PBvolODga

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 17, 2025, 11:51:13 pm
content: how can you not trust a guy named "Master Tao"!

author: KungFuJosh
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 12:06:52 am
content: I want one.

author: wraper
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 12:09:45 am
content: It's probably safer than unshielded laser engravers/cutters sold by everyone and their dog.

author: chandler
author_rank: Newbie
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 12:10:01 am
content: Haha, the replies about radiation made me guffaw.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 12:22:56 am
content: Looks like the dental xrays they've been selling on aliexpress for years now, but in a usable form factor, cool. How long until Fnirsi is making one?Lead sheet is not too expensive, so making an enclosure would be an option. Maybe someone else can comment on how much radiation is going out? Or if its highly directional so not an issue.Quote from: wraper on September 18, 2025, 12:09:45 amThey sell those too, or at least something similar with no shielding:https://shop.rewa.tech/detail/m-triangle-automatic-laser-spot-welder.html

author: DaneLaw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 12:27:05 am
content: You can get these relatively small handheld ones from China..Cost around 300€ for a handheld unit like below. (before VAT)Purchased one sometime ago, but cancelled the order as it wasn't shipped for quite a long time, and I then found another I wanted instead, and then another etc, - then its usually not the right frame of mind to purchase anything.I would prefer one with a screen that can also visualize the result on the unit's own screen, but those were quite a bit more expensive.. (four digits)So decided to take a pass, as its still a lot of money on a purpose mainly driven by curiosity & fascination of tech / science & gadgets.They are usually targeted dental work, though with a quite small working area, roughly a few centimeters squared.Most of them seem to be in this ballpark of stats.

author: themadhippy
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 01:42:01 am
content: Nothing new,you Could get a pair of x ray specs (no not the band) for 20 bazooka joe comic strips back in the 70's

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 02:10:47 am
content: I was going to start a new thread about this, but this seems like the perfect place to inject this.Went to the dentist yesterday for cleaning. While sitting in the chair I spotted something on the wall that looked odd, a device with a long corrugated hose coming out of it. I asked the girl (technician) if it was some sort of vacuum; she said no, it's the X-ray unit.Duh. Of course it is.So despite my handle here, this is one thing that I'm happy has gone digital. Why? Because the digital X-ray thingies take alotless radiation than the film formerly used. (In addition to not needing developing and having higher resolution.) In fact, she said that the lead aprons, hanging on the wall in the corner, were no longer even used.

author: 5U4GB
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 02:11:51 am
content: Quote from: thm_w on September 18, 2025, 12:22:56 amYou need several mm of lead to stop xrays of that intensity (dental/diagnostic/etc), you can't just drape a thin sheet over it and assume you're fully protected. They also have a nasty ability to bounce off things and go places where you're not expecting them, in commercial facilities they use xray labyrinths to make sure nothing can get out, and that includes entry/egress points for cables, ducting etc.

author: Smokey
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 02:16:51 am
content: Link to the other xray machine post going on right now...https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/new-tool!-xray-machine/

author: Joebeazelman
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 03:33:38 am
content: Quote from: wraper on September 18, 2025, 12:09:45 amAccording to to the NRC, you are required to obtain a license or register your facility with the state before using an X-ray machine, regardless of its size. States often require a radiation safety program, shielding designs, and may require inspections before X-ray equipment can be legally operated.Last time I checked, laser engravers and cutters don't require any such requirements.

author: DimitriP
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 03:40:07 am
content: Quote from: KungFuJosh on September 18, 2025, 12:06:52 amThat's the spirit!!!

author: HKJ
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 08:46:47 am
content: As far as I know x-ray requires a transmitter on one side and receiver on the other side of the object. When single sided it might be some sort of microwave radar that is used. In police videos I have seen police use handheld scanners on the road, that can look into suitcases and car panels from one side (Looking for drugs), they call them x-ray, but I doubt that is correct.

author: temperance
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 09:57:13 am
content: QuoteBackscatter imaging perhaps. But you won’t be able to see through metal because the X-rays will bounce off.

author: oPossum
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 09:57:26 am
content: Quote from: HKJ on September 18, 2025, 08:46:47 amhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backscatter_X-rayhttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X-ray_fluorescence

author: DaneLaw
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 05:06:03 pm
content: Csl-techhttps://scintacor.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/dental-Scintillators.pdfThis was the other handheld model I looked at, where you had visual display on the unit.Sensor options and their effective areas..

author: Analog Kid
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 06:34:11 pm
content: Heh; Those visual displays remind me of the Bad Old Days.I remember my dad taking me when I was little (6-7-8, late 1950s) to a shoe store in Chicago where you could put a nickel in a machine, put your feet under the bottom and see the bones in your feet.Yikes.

author: asmi
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 07:02:08 pm
content: Quote from: 5U4GB on September 18, 2025, 02:11:51 amModern digital x-ray machines use so little radiation for imaging that you can spend hours under them without any harmful effects. This sparked a revolution in medical field as now you can use minimally-invasive techniques for many procedures while being guided by real-time live x-ray video feed (or even 3d view). And modern x-ray machines no longer require use of lead shields to shield "sensitive" parts of the body because the dose is so little. That said, however small a dose is, it's not zero, so for permanent installations and intensive use (like CT scanner or x-ray machine in a hospital) they still go into trouble of implementing proper shielding. But if you only use it occasionally, you don't really need extensive shielding in most cases.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 18, 2025, 11:53:02 pm
content: Quote from: asmi on September 18, 2025, 07:02:08 pmYeah, being a benchtop unit I'd still want a shield just in case it got left on and to appease HR. That and less chance people will screw with it.Quote from: HKJ on September 18, 2025, 08:46:47 amAs mentioned above there is a remote sensor on both of these, same as when dentist has you bite down on the sensor and cable is attached to it.

author: jjoonathan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2025, 04:18:09 am
content: Instructions unclear, circuit board stuck in teeth

author: jjoonathan
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2025, 04:23:45 am
content: More seriously, does anyone know where to find sensors larger than "Size 2"? Or are those still exclusive to the professional price bracket?

author: onesystem
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2025, 09:51:01 pm
content: Quote from: jjoonathan on September 19, 2025, 04:23:45 amThere are xray sensors which take images of joints, bones, etc - sensors are large, but I do not know their resolution. Cost though.... is very much in the "professional price bracket". search on ebay for " canon CXDI " and you will get the idea. Also their communication protocol, etc. A lot to do to adapt it for our use I think.

author: MadTux
author_rank: Frequent Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2025, 10:48:49 pm
content: Just got one old dental xray machine working again, old school with phosphor screen, so far.Not much to it, you can get dental sensors for like $500-$700 on aliexpress.I'll probably go with storage film and HeNe/photomultiplier storage film scanner, seems more foolproof than xraying some VLSI CMOS over and over again.Backscatter is like 1/1000 of actual Xray dose a meter back, so you're pretty safe if you stay out of the beam and a bit away from the xray source.Eventually, just put it into your cellar with concrete walls and use remote to fire it from another room.80kV xrays are pretty much blocked by like 2mm of steel or a few cm of concrete, backscatter is absorbed even more easily, since it's even lower energy.HP8662A PSU board and small Xilinx BGA FPGA board, that good xray head started arcing over internally soon afterwards, oil likely went bad, looking for replacement oil now....Just phosphor screen and 70kV@8mA and 70kV@7mA with new head and old Nikon D70 camera.

author: thm_w
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 19, 2025, 11:07:31 pm
content: Quote from: jjoonathan on September 19, 2025, 04:23:45 amLook on alibaba, price goes way up though, since resolution also scales up.- Size 0 22x35mm- Size 1 24x40mm- Size 2 31x41mm- Size 3 27x54mm- Size 4 47x67mm- Size 6 67x116mm

author: tv84
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2025, 09:37:02 am
content: Anyway,don't forget your personal X-ray dosimeterwhen you use these things.It's much safer than believing just in the specs.

author: Alphatronique
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2025, 12:04:56 pm
content: i greatly suggest to read that treadhttps://www.eevblog.com/forum/testgear/x-ray-machines-technology-and-use-in-hobby-electronics/msg560053/#msg560053X-ray device is not a toyit not have "safe" doseChina device is crap and cannot trust for the x-ray level generated / leaklead apron is no longer used ,because it not protect from scatterGeiger type dosimeter not work since it saturate , need cumulative dosimeterif you look carefully on ebay you may find , old closed cabinet style medical system the is much safer like faxitron biovision

author: gamerpaddy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 20, 2025, 12:29:46 pm
content: Nice, i mean chinese people are made of a different kind of wood...seeing laser cleaning videos with upwards of 3kW without safety glasses, a little bit of low intensity xray cant be that much more harmful.wanted to buy one and a USB dental sensor but didnt want to send 1000+ bucks over aliexpress. so i spend double that on some local stuff that doesnt work (yet)

author: onesystem
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: September 22, 2025, 05:06:50 pm
content: Quote from: gamerpaddy on September 20, 2025, 12:29:46 pmWhat does not work yet? I have some experience with these sensors and xray emitters.

author: gamerpaddy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 02, 2025, 09:34:50 am
content: @onesystemdo you have any info on this? really want to get it working someday.https://www.eevblog.com/forum/projects/interfacing-a-ge-flashpad-from-a-optima200-xray-machine/msg6000939/#msg6000939or the protocol the TWAIN / XVS2530 sensors use? its connecting over Serial 921600 baud. i dont want to use the buggy dental software to capture images.So, i got myself one of those smart I s0 dental sensors for around 300 bucks on ali... description said its 21x27mm with 1100x1500 but in reality its just 21x21 with 578x578 pixels. nevermind, it works and looks good.it sends its data over serial 921600 baudim gonna mount it on a XY stage to capture a larger area and stitch it automatically.i also ordered 25kg of lead sheet to make a leak proof cabinet, that atomscope thingy puts out quite some clicks on the scintillator.

author: onesystem
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 03, 2025, 10:57:06 pm
content: Hi! that large sensor looks beautiful! And sure pricey/so proprieatary.I dealt more with dental sensors - gendex/dexis.Here is a repository (you might already know about it)https://github.com/JohnDMcMaster/gxs700There John wrote python code to read images. It still can be compiled on a linux computer and run pretty well. I think only one or two files need adjusting to get them working with no errors with current python.I am also slowly building an xy rig for this tiny sensor - so that with stitching I can have large composite images. It is specifically being made for PCB scanning.I have several gendex and dexis sensors in various states of operation - some malfunctioned, some work great. Also have two xray portable battery powered machines. I purchased both broken - repaired one, the other one needs more work.I am not familiar with aftermarket dental sensors - not sure how they are driven and if they will work with the above repository.On the other hand, dexis software is fully functioning for 30 days. Then quick uninstall/install with deletion of dexis folder in C drive - and it is back to 30 days functioning. So that also helps as their software interacts with their sensors very well.

author: gamerpaddy
author_rank: Regular Contributor
timestamp: October 04, 2025, 01:42:50 pm
content: I have the software for the GE thingy but for the whole machine. i cant get it to run in a VM because it wants to talk to the other components.also tried using a laptop from that era, maybe its a driver issue. but didnt work.for the dental sensors:the aftermarket xvs one is a bit different and wont work with the gxs700 project i think.the plastic box contains a 185V powersupply and a stm32f103 (that isnt protected) which i dumped the firmware from.the sensor itself is also connected over UART, it just seems to pass the commands trough and picks the one that sets the turn on / voltage adjust commands.its all just 2M baud serial.it says its supports TWAIN and almost all softwares out there, but i havent found a specification with commands yet.ive attached a serial capture for "Device Monitoring Studio"| Header | Command ID | Payload / Params | Checksum | CR LF || ------ | ---------- | ---------------- | -------- | ----- || F4 F4 | 04 | 00 00 00 ... | EC 01 | 0D 0A || FA FA | 02 | 00 00 00 ... | F6 01 | 0D 0A || F3 F3 | 05 | 00 00 00 ... | EB 01 | 0D 0A |code for checksum:Code:def checksum16_le(data: bytes) -> bytes:s = sum(data) & 0xFFFFreturn bytes([s & 0xFF, (s >> 8) & 0xFF]) # low, high# usage: checksum16_le(b"\xF6\xF6\x01...")F8 F8 seems to request a frameF4 F4 some setupthe config file for it has some commands listedCode:<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8"?><SystemSetting><!--image--><add key="SrcRawBitsAllocated" value="16"/><add key="ImageColumns" value="288"/><add key="ImageRows" value="288"/><add key="CropSize" value="0"/><add key="DcmBitsAllocated" value="16"/><add key="DcmBitsStored" value="16"/><add key="DcmHighBit" value="15"/><!--calibration--><add key="CorrectFolderName" value="Cal\CalFile\10.0" desc="校正存储目录"/><add key="EXPModeAECEnabled" value="y" desc=""/><add key="EXPMode_CFG_AEC" value="00 00" desc=""/><add key="EXPMode_CFG_FullManual" value="00 02" desc=""/><add key="EXPMode_CFG_AECAEC" value="00 00" desc=""/><add key="UseVoltageCurrentMode" value="3" desc="1:InVolInCur,2:ExtVolInCur,3:ExtVolExtCur"/><!--commands--><add key="EnableExpTimeOut" value="300000" desc=""/><add key="CMD_F5_Config_Mode" value="CMD_F5_Config_XRayMode" desc="Running Mode Used"/><add key="CMD_F5_Config_NOXRayMode1" value="f5 f5 00 00 00 00 00 00 00 28 7FFF 0000 0100 1300 1640 0601 1A18 0958 10E0 18DA 194C 115C 11DC 0A10 17FF 1500 1406 02AC 039D 04AC" desc="InVolInCur"/><add key="CMD_F5_Config_XRayMode1" value="F5 F5 01 05 00 00 00 00 00 28 7FFF 0000 0100 1300 1640 0601 1A18 0958 10E0 18DA 194C 115C 11DC 0A10 17FF 1500 1406 02AC 039D 047F" desc="InVolInCur"/><add key="CMD_F5_Config_NOXRayMode2" value="F5 F5 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 22 7FFF 0000 0100 1300 1640 067D 1A18 0958 10E0 18DA 194C 115C 11DC 0A10 17FF 1500 1406" desc="ExtVolInCur"/><add key="CMD_F5_Config_XRayMode2" value="F5 F5 01 05 00 00 00 00 00 22 7FFF 0000 0100 1300 1640 067D 1A18 0958 10E0 18DA 194C 115C 11DC 0A10 17FF 1500 1406" desc="ExtVolInCur"/><add key="CMD_F5_Config_NOXRayMode3" value="F5 F5 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 22 7FFF 0000 0100 1300 1640 067C 1A18 0958 10E0 18DA 194C 115C 11DC 0A10 17FF 1500 1406" desc="ExtVolExtCur"/><add key="CMD_F5_Config_XRayMode3" value="F5 F5 01 05 00 00 00 00 00 22 7FFF 0000 0100 1300 1640 067C 1A18 0958 10E0 18DA 194C 115C 11DC 0A10 17FF 1500 1406" desc="ExtVolExtCur"/><add key="CMD_F6_EnableExpose" value="F6 F6 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 0A 00 00 00 0F C9 F0 24 30 00 00" desc=""/><add key="CMD_F6_EnableExpose02" value="F6 F6 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 0A 00 02 00 DB 0F 49 06 F6 00 00" desc=""/><add key="CMD_F6_EnableExpose1min" value="F6 F6 01 00 00 00 00 00 00 0A 00 02 09 11 31 B4 06 F6 00 00" desc=""/><!--vol params limit--><add key="PowerBoardTestNextCmdWaittime" value="100"/><!--vol params limit--><add key="IntraoralBoard_Temp_Formula" value="((({0} * 256 + {1}) * {5} / 3.0) - {2}) / ({3} - {4}) * 100 + 30"/><add key="IntraoralBoard_V_ATB_Formula" value="({0} * 256 + {1}) * {2} / 4095.0"/><add key="IntraoralBoard_V_HiVol_Formula" value="({0} * 256 + {1}) * {2} * 96 / 4095.0"/><add key="IntraoralBoard_V1_2_Formula" value="({0} * 256 + {1}) * {2} / 4095.0"/><add key="IntraoralBoard_V_REF_Formula" value="({0} * 256 + {1}) * {2} / 4095.0"/><add key="PowerBoard_Temp_Formula" value="(({0} * 256 + {1}) * 3.3 / 4095.0 - 0.76) * 1000.0 / 2.5 + 25"/><add key="PowerBoard_Temp_Formula_2" value="30.0 / ({0} * 256 + {1}) * (({2} * 256 + {3}) - ({0} * 256 + {1})) + 30.0" desc="6.2after"/><add key="PowerBoard_V_HiVol_Formula" value="({0} * 256 + {1}) * 3.3 * {2} / 4095.0"/><add key="PowerBoard_V_INP_Formula" value="({0} * 256 + {1}) * 3.3 / 4095.0"/><add key="PowerBoard_V_INM_Formula" value="({0} * 256 + {1}) * 3.3 / 4095.0"/><add key="PowerBoard_V_REF_Formula" value="({0} * 256 + {1}) * 3.3 / 4095.0"/><add key="PowerBoard_V_INP_INM_Formula" value="{0} * 10"/><!--vol params limit--><add key="StatandDiff" value="0.0"/><add key="VSET_Formula" value="{0} - 0.75"/><add key="New_VSET_Formula" value="172 - (({0} - 0.75) / 0.0034)"/><add key="VTH1_Formula" value="{0} - 0.70"/><add key="New_VTH1_Formula" value="157 - (({0} - 0.70) / 0.0034)"/><add key="VTH2_Formula" value="{0} - 0.60"/><add key="New_VTH2_Formula" value="127 - (({0} - 0.60) / 0.0034)"/><add key="Outside_VSET" value="0.75"/><add key="Outside_VTH1" value="0.70"/><add key="Outside_VTH2" value="0.60"/><add key="Outside_VSET_NOXRayMode" value="0.75"/><add key="Outside_VTH1_NOXRayMode" value="0.70"/><add key="Outside_VTH2_NOXRayMode" value="0.75"/><add key="Outside_VREF3" value="3.0"/><add key="Outside_ADValue_Formula" value="{0} * 4096 / 2.048"/></SystemSetting>... its really just 288x288 pixels upscaled to 578x578 it seemsa py script that fetches the raw data so i can fiddle with it on my own at the end would be the best solution rather than a laggy dental software.