Arduino controlled X-ray imaging machine

Arduino Mega 2560

Hi my name is Colin and I want to tell you something about my Arduino controlled X-ray machine. The plan was to make X-rays out of vintage half wave rectifier vacuum tubes. We used Felix’ 50kV high-voltage generator, and some batteries for the filament. But I knew that the shielding is important, so the first thing I built was an lead-box and lead-cover. For measuring my exposure I use a high quality Geiger-counter.<figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/c37dcc2b-21c3-4566-a871-794b31026a3f.jpeg /><figcaption>this was my setup at the beginning</figcaption></figure>I placed an intensifying screen in the X-ray beam and made long exposures of it. The results were bad, really bad. We could only generate soft X-rays with and without the filament glowing. The next step was to buy a better and bigger X-ray tube. So I bought a 100kV X-ray tube. I use the same HV-generator and buck converter as a filament supply. After some test I noticed that the tube is getting warm. So I sealed the lead-box and filled it up with oil. I placed two pc-fans in the oil as convection cooling. <figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/ecc3a74e-0e5d-4703-bfaf-80eb61cdba38.jpeg /><figcaption>the tube is under the rock</figcaption></figure>Now I had to write some software to use the X-ray machine as safe as possible. I use an Arduino mega to control relays. The relays switch the cooling-fans, the filament, the High Voltage and trigger the camera. <figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/389325f9-f1e1-436a-bc71-e9f8d9908ec4.jpeg /><figcaption>the buck converters are used for the fan, filament and the relay-board.</figcaption></figure>The Arduino is only controlling the relays and is not timing anything.For the timing, I use Processing.<figure><img src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/d1172bf2-7dc2-43f3-a58f-629d1aaadef5.png /><figcaption> </figcaption></figure>Now I am able to take my X-rays safe, because I have enough time to leave the basement. There are some pics:<div id="gallery"><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/b246e573-8b8d-4945-9447-73675932b752.jpeg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/30a6a228-fded-4a7c-90fa-3257a7deff33.jpeg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/723842c1-59ad-4088-a225-cddbf95a8ee2.jpeg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/e73cd46f-d816-490d-8e98-0fe46048d5d9.jpeg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/82b04c82-66d1-4da7-bea2-7e824252ed98.jpeg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/90752b0d-f93d-4066-a9c1-c085825afe1d.jpeg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/693c799c-9832-4546-9aef-4c2006e059af.jpeg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/55b95062-4a48-447f-9e6c-fd47944f67db.jpeg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/f5085d85-cc35-47cd-aacf-ca37b8d5bf9b.jpeg /><figcaption> </figcaption><img id="gallery" src=https://projects.arduinocontent.cc/2bf4df9c-85f8-418d-9925-21c64de4d20f.jpeg /><figcaption> </figcaption></div>

Arduino controlled X-ray imaging machine

Dangerous but badass