Do you know how most of the industries depend on X-ray systems? Industries such as automotive, electronics, military, and aviation consider the industrial X-ray systems mandatory to improve their quality and quantity of production.
By placing the sample product between an X-ray tube and a detector for inspection, X-ray tubes emit the beam whose energy will be proportionate to the sample’s thickness. These X-rays penetrate the material and develop an image on the detector. This is how the sample’s quality and integrity can be assessed using non-destructive Industrial X-ray imaging. Therefore, the X-ray system should be maintained well to achieve these assessments and ultimately improve the business in the long-term.
Despite emphasizing the importance of preventive maintenance (PM) via emails, phone, or blogs, it is mandatory to conduct regular preventive maintenance for industrial X-ray machines to ensure safety, improve image quality, and minimize downtime.
We would be glad to be the company you select to perform regular preventive maintenance for your industrial X-ray system. Anyway, we are here to share with you how actual preventive maintenance should be performed, in three stages. One of the applications of X-ray systems can be found in the construction industry.
Three Stages of an Industrial X-ray Preventive Maintenance
1. Tube Cleaning
Depending on the type of X-ray tube installed in the PCB X-ray machine, their respective preventive maintenance differs. There are two types of X-ray tubes namely open tubes and closed tubes.
The maintenance step involves only replacements for closed tubes as the technicians may not be able to replace the internal components as the tube remains sealed and lasts only for a limited period. When it comes to open X-ray tubes, interior components such as filaments, O-rings, and sockets can be checked and replaced. The case’s internal part can also be cleaned and coupled back for testing components such as cooling and vacuum systems. This specific nature makes open tubes last longer compared to the closed tubes.
2. Electrical, Mechanical, and Safety Testing
Industrial X-ray devices involve electrical and mechanical parts, like sensors, warning lights, as well as locking mechanisms. These components should be examined periodically by the certified personnel. Other mechanical components such as motion controllers and mounting platforms should be adjusted properly during the examination. At the same time, wires and cables should be evaluated for proper termination and to confirm the sufficient securing of drapes.
3. General Performance and Functional Verification
Verification of the system’s operation is the first point of call to determine the specific components that require adjustment or replacement. This verification step often begins with the examination of image quality before disassembling followed by the repairing of faulty devices. Only after this step, a re-verification of the image quality takes place. Other verification measures include industrial radiography application checks, alignment checks, as well as the radiation survey. All these checks should be included in the servicing technician’s checklist for every specific model of the industrial X-ray device. A complete check-list of the radiography computer workstation also becomes part of this verification step if approved upon during the service contract. This check-list also includes installation and regular updates of the digital radiography application software and patches.
Finally, the industrial X-ray machine should be checked for the system’s radiation survey to confirm that there will be no radiation leak while maintaining the X-ray machine. Even the components’ performance as well as calibration do not vary due to their maintenance during the confirmation step. After completing the maintenance work, a report is submitted by the service provider explaining the procedure and methods followed during the maintenance period in detail. This report identifies the deteriorating parts and suggests replacement within a specified time period.
Benefits of Preventive Maintenance Service Contracts
Having a proper service contract often protects the parties involved from a future unpredictable occurrence that might turn out to be a point of dispute. These disagreements may end up with trust issues where you will ultimately lose time and money. A service contract should not be ignored by the company if they are planning to seek a maintenance service. This step will ensure that the concerns relating to the service quality meet the parties’ expectations.
Choosing the Right Service Provider for Servicing Your Industrial X-ray System
To carry out proper preventive maintenance of X-ray systems, it is important to select a certified and well-experienced service provider. A major criterion for selecting the right service provider is the timeliness and quickness of the service provider’s response to production managers whenever they are called for maintenance. The efficiency of the service provider is similarly as crucial as their punctuality.
Another vital criterion includes the service provider’s access to the spare parts from the manufacturers. Even their reliability in terms of skills and proficiency of their technician should never be taken for granted. The third-party verification of these service providers should also be included in the criteria while selecting a suitable service provider. The capability to troubleshoot and figure out the imminent problems in the X-ray system is also mandatory in a service provider. This capability brings confidence in the contractor and makes the production manager stay cool.
The Takeaway
Performing regular preventive maintenance for the industrial X-ray system prevents downtime and saves costs for all companies and organizations. It is not just ensuring that the X-ray device works smoothly by following all the stages listed above, but also to reduce the chance of any expensive and emergency device repair or replacements. It also helps the right X-ray device operator to deliver his or her duties at the right time in a systematic way.
If you’d like to learn more about preventive maintenance for your X-ray system, our Uni-Xray Service Team can help with preventive maintenance program subscriptions with relevant options. You can connect with us to inform us about your device and schedule.