Mesofocus X-ray tube technology
Upgrade Your Industrial CT Capabilities with High-Penetration, High-Resolution Mesofocus X-ray Technology.
As an advanced alternative to the 450 kV ISOVOLT Minifocus X-ray tube, the Phoenix V|tome|x C450 system now offers the option to integrate the Comet iXRS 450 MF Mesofocus X-ray tube. This cutting-edge closed-tube solution delivers an ideal balance of high penetration power and high-resolution 3D computed tomography (CT)—making it perfect for inspecting large components or dense materials. Designed for industrial CT scanning in production environments, it ensures precise quality assurance with minimal compromise between resolution and throughput.
Mesofocus – closing the gap between Minifocus and Microfocus
Until today, there were two kinds of X-ray tubes state of the art for industrial CT.
- Until now, industrial computed tomography (CT) relied on two primary X-ray tube technologies: sealed Minifocus tubes and open Microfocus tubes. Minifocus tubes offer high power output and robust stability, making them ideal for high-throughput CT scanning in production environments. However, their large focal spot size limits resolution, reducing their effectiveness for fine-detail inspection.
- In contrast, Microfocus tubes deliver exceptional resolution for high-precision CT imaging, but they lack the penetration power needed for dense materials and require more frequent maintenance due to their open design.
- The new Mesofocus X-ray tube technology bridges this gap by enabling 450 kV industrial CT scanning with focal spot sizes as small as 63 microns. This results in significantly improved CT resolution and defect detection capabilities. For comparison, a traditional 450 kV Minifocus tube has a focal spot around 400 µm, offering roughly 6.5 times less resolution.
Depending on your application—whether inspecting large, dense parts or requiring high-resolution imaging—Mesofocus CT technology offers the ideal balance between penetration power, resolution, and maintenance efficiency, making it a powerful solution for modern industrial inspection.
Before and After: Enhanced Image Quality
Optimal CT performance by combining Mesofocus and Scatter|correct technology
Today, Mesofocus tube technology is widely offered by Computed Tomography system providers to close gaps in some applications between Mini- and Microfocus. But, CT quality not only depends on the focal spot size - especially when scanning dense and large samples, scattered radiation artifacts can have a significant impact. While state of the art scatter reduction methods simulate scatter based on CAD data and material properties, Waygate Technologies patented Scatter|correct technology really measures the scatter portion and corrects it for every individual voxel – enabling users to receive optimal CT results with highest defect detection and 3D metrology precision.
Benefits
Mesofocus can be the ideal technology to close the gap between high power Minifocus and high resolution Microfocus with focal spot sizes between 450 and 63 microns at 450 kV penetration power.
Low maintenance and high uptime: the robust and sealed design of the Mesofocus tube allows for 24/7 operation in harsh environments without frequent maintenance.
Mesofocus offers comparable focal spot sizes like Microfocus tubes, but those are limited and therefore enable less penetration of large dense samples, causing a lower inspection throughput.
Stability, repeatability and accuracy due to a stable dose rate without the need for recalibration and crucial for mass production inspection.
