X-Ray PCB Inspection - Page 1
Forum section: electronics / general

author: Sarcarean
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 09:14:50 am
content: I have recently acquired and setup a high precision x-ray system that is specialized for PCB inspection (BGA, multi-layer, etc.).System specs: 180 kV (HV) power, 880 μA tube current, 2D/3D (CT option), and 0.4 μm feature recognition.If anyone has any boards / electronics that they would like to get images of, please let me know (hobbyist only please). I am located in USA.

author: voltsandjolts
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 09:22:55 am
content: Got some juicy sample pictures?

author: Alex Eisenhut
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 11, 2025, 07:38:46 pm
content: I have always wanted a detailed view into a floppy drive R/W head *before* I rip it apart.

author: Sarcarean
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2025, 12:22:40 am
content: @voltsandjolts - Sure. Keep in mind, I am still learning how to use it. It is far more advanced and technical than I assumed prior.Here are some images I captured: a SD card, a FTDI IC, a 6-layer thin PCB, and a board looking at the USB-C port to see if there was any internal shorts.

author: Sarcarean
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 12, 2025, 12:26:33 am
content: And here is a BGA that was was desoldered, and had all of his pads soldered using just solder instead of replacing with BGA balls. You will notice that the size of the solder "blobs" are not quite perfect, but that it does appear to have made a good connection on all points.

author: Zucca
author_rank: Unknown
timestamp: August 13, 2025, 02:55:09 am
content: Quote from: Sarcarean on August 11, 2025, 09:14:50 amThanks for the nice offer!Can you tell us which system you got? I imagine I am not the only one who wants to know...

author: Sarcarean
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 14, 2025, 10:18:30 pm
content: Phoenix Nanomex CT 180 and the options for PCB reverse engineering and BGA inspection. I would do a review, but since I have never used any other system...

author: paul_b_78
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 09:38:00 pm
content: Wow that is awesome - if and when I win the lottery that is definitely on my shopping list.I have always wanted to look at an X-Box 1914 Controller PCB and also compare with a PS5 Dual Sense Controller. Unfortunately I am situated in the UK so would cost me far too much to ship overseas to you.If you ever come across either of these controllers then I would extremely grateful for an X-Ray image of these

author: daisizhou
author_rank: Super Contributor
timestamp: August 17, 2025, 11:38:16 pm
content: I would like to ask,Nowadays, more and more GBA package chips contain EEPROM or FLASH storage chips.Will the stored data be lost if inspected under X-ray?

author: Sarcarean
author_rank: Contributor
timestamp: September 12, 2025, 11:34:58 am
content: So in theory, yes. X-rays can cause accelerated degradation of the trapped charges in the floating gates. However, I did x-ray many MCU, which have either EEPROM or flash, and after 20 minutes of high voltage exposure, the devices still booted. It is also important to note, that modern memory devices, even within newer MCU, also contain ECC, which will help correct and fix bit flips affected by x-ray.