X-ray tubes are used for a wide range of products, including medical imaging, thickness gauging, X-ray fluorescence, and X-ray diffraction. These applications require small focal point, low power X-ray tubes. Replacement life on X-ray tubes is variable. The tube generally lasts between four and six years or 10,000 to 30,000 hours of use.
Factors Influencing Life Span of XRF Tubes
The XRF tube is a key component of many types of machinery. Extending the life of the tube reduces costs as well as downtime due to maintenance. There are ways to extend the life of the tube without compromising performance.
Temperature can have a great effect on the lifespan of the X-ray tube. If the cooling system used is not adequate to keep the tube cool, its lifespan will be significantly shortened. Regular maintenance to ensure air intake vents, as well as fans, are clear, ensures the air circulation is adequate to cool the tube. Running your machinery at a low kV and high mA increases stress on filaments, which will shorten the life of the tube.
You can purchase tubes designed for a long life as well as ones designed for continuous operation. These tubes are designed to transfer internal heat out of the tube, do not have a high voltage well, which reduces arcing, and uses proprietary processes in specially conditioned oil. These factors combine to ensure the tube has a long life with minimal maintenance needs. Get in touch with Micro X-Ray Inc. on their website for your X-ray tubing needs.
