WEBINAR: X-Ray Inspection for PCB Manufacturing

Event Details

Questions and Answers

Q: What are the Australian safety standards? Do I need a licence in Qld ?

Every state has different rules. In some states you can install an X-ray in situ easily and for others you have to wait months for approval. QLD health requires users and equipment providers to have a machine registered.

How much power is required in an X-ray?

Short answer is, it depends on what you would like to see into? PCBS = Typically 90-110kva. Engine blocks might require 150-200kva. It depends on the metals we are looking through.

How much is a Entry level X-Ray solution?

Approximately $120,000 AUD for a cabinet X-ray. Around $600k+ for an inline machine.

Do you provide training on Xray systems?

Yes, we have 3 qualified/licenced technicians for each state who are able to commission/train/repair.

Is X-Ray only required by hi-reliability industries like defence/space?

Anyone who is concerned or has concerns around the ability to manufacture with zero defects, can benefit from X-ray solutions.

Are cabinet X-ray or inline X-ray machines safe?

Yes, all machines we sell will comply with AU/NZ standard. We also recommend anyone working on or with a system wears a Dosimeter.

Is any maintenance required on X-ray machines?

Yes and no. If the machine operates with an OPEN tube style, i.e filaments, then the globe is required to be changed periodically. If the machine has a separate generator its typically high power systems. Then work is done on the cable with greasing and checking etc.

A closed tube system is maintenance free although it has a lifetime, depending on use and hours operated.

Are there any parts that are sensitive to X-ray and cannot be examined?

We have not come across any yet. A while ago we examined parts associated with the health industry but they were not overly sensitive.

Does the lead solder process affect power requirements?

In Australia there is not mandate to use lead-free solder. Many of our customer use lead solder and we are not aware of any issues. Some metals require more power which you can adjust to a point.

Can you use filters with X-ray to focus or limit the X-ray on sensitive areas?

There is a field of view on the X-ray machine and a focal spot size. There is some ability to minimise what is being examined. The Xspection 3000 from Scienscope has a convolution and filter operation (Gaussian filter template) adopted for image sharpening.

3D CT – is it software or hardware driven?

Its a combination of both. For software, you need a powerful workstation with a lot of memory and computing power to build the slices. You can set how many slices can be captured while the part is rotating. There could be hundreds of images that need to be reconstructed.