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This section provides an overview for x-ray tubes as well as their applications and principles. Also, please take a look at the list of 4 x-ray tube manufacturers and their company rankings. Here are the top-ranked x-ray tube companies as of December, 2024: 1.Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation, 2.Matsusada Precision Inc., 3.Ma Stoken Solution.
Table of Contents
An X-ray tube is a type of X-ray generation tube that converts electrical input power to produce X-rays.
X-Ray Tubes are classified into two types according to the type of tube: sealed tubes, in which the inside of the tube is always kept in a vacuum, and open tubes, in which a vacuum pump is installed on the outside of the tube to create a high vacuum.
Sealed tubes are also known as anode tubes. They are further classified into two types: rotating anode tubes with a rotating anode and fixed anode tubes without a rotating anode. The fixed-anode tube has a rotating anode, which allows heat dispersion and increases the current flowing through the X-ray tube.
X-Ray Tubes are classified into microfocus and mini-focus (or millifocus) types, depending on the focal spot size. These X-ray tubes have a focal spot size on the order of microns and millimeters, respectively.
X-Ray Tubes are used as X-ray generators in various fields. X-rays are electromagnetic waves with a wavelength shorter than that of ultraviolet rays, and their high energy allows them to penetrate through materials.
The following are some of the applications that take advantage of this penetrating effect:
An X-ray tube consists of an enclosure, a cathode, and an anode . When a high voltage is applied between the cathode and anode after the cathode filament is heated by an electric current, hot electrons are emitted from the filament and are directed to the anode target at high speed.
The thermal electrons are attracted to the nucleus of the anode material, such as tungsten, and rapidly change direction, releasing energy. At this time, 99% of the energy is converted to thermal energy, but the remaining 1% is emitted as X-rays. These X-rays are called bremsstrahlung X-rays and are characterized by their continuous spectrum.
Where the thermal electrons pass in relation to the nucleus is not uniquely determined, and the X-ray intensity varies depending on where they pass. Therefore, bremsstrahlung has a continuous spectrum.
Some thermal electrons rarely collide with electrons of the target atom. The collided electrons gain energy from the thermal electrons and are repelled, and then transition to the outer electron orbitals, but because they are unstable, they quickly return to their original orbitals.
The difference in the energy state of the electron orbital is emitted as X-rays. X-ray tubes produce mostly bremsstrahlung X-rays, which are extracted through a window made of beryllium or other material with low X-ray absorption in the tube's enclosure.
The intensity and energy of the X-ray tube depend on the tube voltage and current.
Tube voltage
The tube voltage is the voltage applied between the anode and cathode of the X-ray tube. The higher the tube voltage, the shorter wavelength X-ray tube produces. The tube voltage is a parameter that affects the intensity and energy.
Tube Current
The current that flows through the inside of the X-ray tube. The current is generated when thermal electrons generated at the cathode collide with the anode. In a rotating anode tube, the anode rotates to disperse the heat and increase the tube current.
There is a proportional relationship between the tube current and the total X-ray tube intensity. On the other hand, the X-ray energy does not change when the tube current is changed.
Since X-rays are electromagnetic waves with a very short wavelength, they have the property of transmitting through materials. The transmission rate varies depending on the material, and X-rays are attenuated during transmission.
The higher the energy of the X-ray, the greater its transmission ability.
*Including some distributors, etc.
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Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation, founded in 1947, is an independent supplier of X-Ray generators, precision DC high voltage power supplies, and Monoblock X-Ray sources for industrial, medical and scientific use. With five design centers, six production centers and eight repair locations across North America, Europe and Asia, the company's area of specialization is working in tandem with original equipment manufacturers to design, produce, and provide support for the most suitable possible solution for each system and market area.
Matsusada Precision Inc is located in Shiga, Japan, and was established in 1978, known as the developer, manufacturer, and global supplier of power supply products and imaging products. The power supply products include high voltage amplifiers, AC, DC, and regenerative DC power supplies as well as optical sensors, which have their use in research centers, aerospace, analytical instruments, electronics, and almost all industries that use power to operate. The imaging products are associated with businesses that use X-ray inspection as a service such as life sciences and electronics Environmental improvement equipment is also supplied, but only in Japan.
Founded in 1915, Canon Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd. is a Japanese manufacturer operating under Canon, Inc. The company's headquarters is located in Otawara, Tochigi, with representative offices in Tokyo, China, the USA, and Europe. The company introduced Japan's first X-ray tube in 1915. Since then, it has developed various components incorporating X-ray tubes for medical, industrial, and scientific applications. Additionally, the company produces environmentally conscious products (ECPs) to minimize environmental impact. For example, the multi-beam klystron can be operated with a low operating voltage for a relatively longer period of time due to the optimized cathode loading.
Ma Stoken Solution, established in 1998 and based in Tokyo, Japan, is a manufacturer and supplier of automatic identification systems. The company's product portfolio includes handheld barcode scanners, barcode verification machines, RFID printers, image processing systems, and other related systems. These products are used in various industries, including pharmaceuticals, transport, construction, distribution, retail, and more. The company holds the ISO 9001:2000 Quality Management System and ISO 14001 Environmental Management System certifications, and also provides services such as design, operation, sale, and maintenance.
Ranking as of December 2024
Derivation Method| Rank | Company | Click Share |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Spellman High Voltage Electronics Corporation |
34.4%
|
| 2 | Matsusada Precision Inc. |
23.2%
|
| 3 | Ma Stoken Solution |
23.2%
|
| 4 | Canon Electron Tubes & Devices Co., Ltd. |
19.1%
|
Derivation Method
The ranking is calculated based on the click share within the x-ray tube page as of December 2024. Click share is defined as the total number of clicks for all companies during the period divided by the number of clicks for each company.Number of Employees
Newly Established Company
Company with a History
*Including some distributors, etc.
*Including some distributors, etc.
| Country | Number of Companies | Share (%) |
|---|---|---|
|
Japan
|
2 | 66.7% |
|
United States of America
|
1 | 33.3% |
57 products found
57 products
Oxford Instruments Ltd.
290+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 day ago
Standard Response
Oxford Instruments glass X-ray tubes are recognized for their performance and long life. ■Features High flux and spot size stability make our X-ra...
3 models listed
Oxford Instruments Ltd.
420+ people viewing
Last viewed: 3 hours ago
Standard Response
The 1500 Series X-ray tube is a 50kV, 50W X-ray tube designed for applications where high flux density and continuous operation are critical. ■Fea...
9 models listed
Oxford Instruments Ltd.
250+ people viewing
Last viewed: 16 hours ago
Standard Response
The 1501Series X-ray Tube is a 50kV, 50-75W X-ray tube designed for applications where high current, high flux density, and continuous operation ar...
2 models listed
Oxford Instruments Ltd.
320+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
Standard Response
The 1550 Series X-ray Tube is a 50kV, 50W X-ray tube designed for applications where high flux density and continuous operation are critical. ■Fea...
4 models listed
Oxford Instruments Ltd.
420+ people viewing
Last viewed: 2 hours ago
Standard Response
Oxford Instruments' 3000Series X-ray Tubes are developed for high flux stability and long life, making them ideal for continuous operation. As a lo...
10 models listed
Laboratory Equipment Corporation Co., Ltd.
40+ people viewing
■Summary This is a highly reliable X-ray generator with all major parts made entirely in Japan. As a filament heating type X-ray generator, it is e...
YXLON International
490+ people viewing
Last viewed: 17 hours ago
4 models listed
Oxford Instruments Ltd.
350+ people viewing
Last viewed: 1 day ago
Standard Response
The Apogee 5500 series is a 50kV, 50W packaged X-ray tube designed for applications where high flux density and continuous operation are critical. ...
8 models listed
Oxford Instruments Ltd.
210+ people viewing
Last viewed: 4 hours ago
Standard Response
■Summary The Jupiter 5000 series is a 50kV, 50W packaged X-ray tube designed for applications where high flux density and continuous operation are ...
Oxford Instruments Ltd.
200+ people viewing
Last viewed: 8 hours ago
Standard Response
■Summary The Neptune 5200 series is a water-cooled, 50kV, 100W packaged X-ray tube designed for applications where high magnetic flux density and c...
YXLON International
700+ people viewing
Last viewed: 17 hours ago
There are other model numbers.
10 models listed
Fukui Metal Crafts Co., Ltd.
140+ people viewing
Last viewed: 18 hours ago
2 models listed
YXLON International
250+ people viewing
Last viewed: 10 hours ago
2 models listed
