DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
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- With your rewinded transformer at about 6T primary and 500T secondary, what voltage do you supply TVS driver with? Did you not run into any problems by not submerging high voltage circuits in the oil? I got transformer working (with original windings) and it started arc'ing internally at just few thousands volts during my open air test. I wonder if there is something wrong with it.
- How long are are your cycles?
- What is the white piece of square material attached to the housing of the tube? Seems like there is also piece of it between transformer and multiplier board. Again, thanks for sharing your project with the community. ---
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DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
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#### PhotonLab
DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
February 13, 2024, 03:54:23 PM
Hello, this is my first post, I would like to share my experience on building a X-RAY machine based on parts bought on eBay.
The assembly I bought is an almost complete X-RAY head:
1) X-RAY tube D-045
2) Cockcroft–Walton 6 stages multiplier
3 High frequency tranformer board (no driver)
I did rewind the original transformer, becouse the primary was made to work in SMPS mode (powered my mains), to work with a ZVS driver.
The tube filament current is provided by a toroid transformer that is feeded by a very simply single transistor self-oscillating driver. The toroid primary consists of 15 + 15 turns center tapped while the scondary is 3 turns of high voltage cable. This ensure insulation of the HV source.
An exposure timer has been added to the circuitry.
You can see the results in the attached pictures.
Any comments or questions are welcome.
Mario
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#### Farben-X
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#1
February 14, 2024, 03:33:25 PM
Hi Mario, very neat build, can you share the schematic for the filament supply circuit? also i was curious if you are able to modulate the current in the filament to control the x-ray hardness? In the past, I also tried to use galvanically insulated filament transformer to feed the glowing filament in the tube, with a small Chinese zvs module, but I found it very hard to control the filament current (and consequentially the HV current flowing in the tube) by varying the input voltage to the oscillating circuit. Also more or less what is the power consumption of the HV system?
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#### PhotonLab
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#2
February 15, 2024, 11:31:42 AM
Quote from: Luca c. on February 14, 2024, 03:33:25 PM
Hi Mario, very neat build, can you share the schematic for the filament supply circuit? also i was curious if you are able to modulate the current in the filament to control the x-ray hardness? In the past, I also tried to use galvanically insulated filament transformer to feed the glowing filament in the tube, with a small Chinese zvs module, but I found it very hard to control the filament current (and consequentially the HV current flowing in the tube) by varying the input voltage to the oscillating circuit.
Also more or less what is the power consumption of the HV system?
Hi Luca,
here's, in MarioCAD format 
, the schematic of my very simple driver.
You can control the heater voltage varying the input voltage of the driver from about 12 to 18 Vdc. In my setup I got 3 Vac with 18 Vdc input at the driver. However I run my tube at about 2.5 Vac.
The whole system at maximum power runs on about 250 W.
Ciao
M.
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#### klugesmith
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#3
February 16, 2024, 01:55:48 AM Last Edit: February 16, 2024, 02:00:39 AM by klugesmith
Nice work, Mario. Welcome to the forum!
Here is a HV-isolated filament supply with no transformers or batteries, reported in 2010.
It's a motor-generator set with insulating drive shaft, made from a blender and a cordless drill.
First glimpse of calibration chart:
Verb Filament\_voltage
\----- -----
Stir 1.9
Whip 2.3
Blend 2.9
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#### PhotonLab
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#4
February 16, 2024, 09:20:44 AM
Quote from: klugesmith on February 16, 2024, 01:55:48 AM
Nice work, Mario. Welcome to the forum!
Here is a HV-isolated filament supply with no transformers or batteries, reported in 2010.
It's a motor-generator set with insulating drive shaft, made from a blender and a cordless drill.
First glimpse of calibration chart:
Verb Filament\_voltage
\----- -----
Stir 1.9
Whip 2.3
Blend 2.9
Lovely solution, what about a hamster powered wheel connected to an alternator?
<https://hackaday.com/2010/10/20/rodent-based-power-generation/>
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#### alan sailer
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#5
February 19, 2024, 06:08:05 PM
I like the filament supply idea. Can you share a simple block diagram of the parts? It looks like your are using an Ebay ZVS driver to drive some sort of HV AC transformer, then into a 12 stage voltage multiplier. Cheers.
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#### PhotonLab
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#6
February 20, 2024, 03:14:58 PM
Quote from: alan sailer on February 19, 2024, 06:08:05 PM
I like the filament supply idea. Can you share a simple block diagram of the parts?
It looks like your are using an Ebay ZVS driver to drive some sort of HV AC transformer, then into
a 12 stage voltage multiplier.
Cheers.
Hello,
your guess is correct: its a cheap ZVS (Amazon) who feed an hand made winded ETD49 ferrite core transformer (about 6T primary, 500T secondary), the Cockcroft–Walton multiplier is a 6 stages bipolar (each stages is made by 2 diodes + 2 capacitors) , theres an exposure control based on a 555 time and a remote control that turn on the HV voltage and also trigger at the same time the Olympus camera. All analog old style stuff.
Soon I will publish update pictures of the setup and a block diagram
Cheers
M.
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#### arturk
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#7
Hi Mario, great project! Coincidentally I have purchased the same gear of eBay while ago and I am working on similar machine. I struggled little bit with the original transformer and also came to conclusion that it would have to be rewinded in order to work with TVS driver. While searching for some ideas how to power filament through the toroid transformer I came across of your post. I really like your driver and will build one in the next few days. I have a few questions.
#### PhotonLab
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#8
Hi, thanks for you interest, the project has been update especially on the safety part. So here's a quick answer to your questions: \-With your rewinded transformer at about 6T primary and 500T secondary, what voltage do you supply TVS driver with? from about 16 to 22 Volt Did you not run into any problems by not submerging high voltage circuits in the oil? I got transformer working (with original windings) and it started arc'ing internally at just few thousands volts during my open air test. I wonder if there is something wrong with it. This happen if the output of the hgh voltage multiplier is unloaded, if you connect the tube with the heather energized this is not goooing to happen. I did some test with a load resistor with an impedance similar to the X-RAY tube, about 60 MOhm. How long are are your cycles? Resonance is at about 35 kHz What is the white piece of square material attached to the housing of the tube? Seems like there is also piece of it between transformer and multiplier board. Screens Hope this help, stay safe and always have a dosimeter at hand. Ciao. Mario
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#### PhotonLab
DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts - New pictures
#9
IMG-20240306-WA0021.jpg
136.03 KB, 1600x1445
viewed 700 times
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#### zgoode
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#10
October 24, 2024, 12:44:43 AM Last Edit: October 28, 2024, 06:32:09 PM by zgoode
Hi Mario, First I want to say awesome work you did here with this! Second, I think you are the guy that replied to my reddit post a few months back. if so Hello again! I had a few questions about how you did you circuit here and was hoping you might be able to clarify some things for me. I'm trying to get my tube up and running, but shelved this a few months back and am finally looking at getting back to it. You mention that you were planning on posting a block diagram at some point and I would love to see that to get a better understanding of the system as a whole, assuming you got around to making it. The pictures of your setup are definitely very useful here as a starting point for me. If I understand your post right, the only part of the original circuit (not including the external extra driver boards you had to add) that you modified was the primary winding of the transformer? I see you mention something about how it was made for SMPS mains and you are driving it via ZVS now on a lower DC voltage. Did you just change the winding ratio to accommodate whatever voltage you were using, or did you change something else in the fundamental construction?
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#### inanium
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#11
November 01, 2024, 07:58:44 AM Last Edit: November 01, 2024, 08:00:18 AM by inanium
I'm also curious about the transformer modifications as I just picked up a similar unit off ebay. I'm guessing you just modified the primary such that you could drive it with a relatively low voltage ZVS driver powered by 12-24v vs a SMPS which is switching, I don't know, line voltage(120vrms)? Did you consider putting the tube and HV section into mineral oil? I'd be concerned that arcing or corona discharge might occur without an oil bath. The mineral oil also might help to keep the tube cool. Thanks!
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#### markonieme
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#12
November 22, 2025, 08:56:36 PM Last Edit: November 22, 2025, 10:03:39 PM by markonieme Reason: Insert image
Hi everyone! I recently purchased this X-ray generator on eBay, and I'm now trying to figure out how to correctly connect the currents going into the tube. I would be very grateful if someone could explain the connections and what kind of power supply is needed. Do I also need lead shielding for this tube? My understanding is that the filament and the high-voltage power supply require separate feeds, but I'm not completely sure. The generator has four connectors. Could someone kindly explain what each of them is for? Here is the figure: <https://jumpshare.com/s/1nlWQJ8leGRT0Moij1mF> Thank you so much in advance for any help or insights! Warm regards, Marko
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#### Arcgap
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#13
November 25, 2025, 07:24:51 PM
That is the mulitplier section of a Midmark monobloc generator. They used a switching power supply feed. I think around 20 khz. The filament needs current and voltage limited supply per the datasheet here <https://www.kailongx-ray.com/file/2020-06-04/F7T7KB0hkX6b770u13C5Rv9Q64E1591248272480.pdf> If it has the Canon tube it should be interchangeable The high voltage section of this supply is center grounded with a theoretical max of 35KV to the anode and 35 kV to the cathode end. There is a design flaw that lets the high voltage at the tube float which can end up supplying anode -cathode potentials of up to 140KV. This will result in arcs that usually blow some of the diodes or caps in the multiplier. We used to use one of there systems to test tubes for them but it was so fragile we ended up building a 60hz full wave system. You will want shielding or lots of air between you and the tube. The majority of the x-rays will go in the 12 degree primary beam but there will be radiation from the tube everywhere but the anode direction where it is blocked by the copper. I have lots of tubes left from when Midmark shut down production last spring so if you blow one and need a replacement I can probably help.
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#### Alberto
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#14
Nice set up!
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#### maspar
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#15
Hi to everyone. The x-ray assembly above uses a RENCO RL-7982 HF+HV transformer. Anyone have any luck in finding a datasheet for it?
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#### d. smith
Re: DIY X-RAY generator made of eBay parts
#16
Hi Mario I am using a near identical schematic to run a flyback. The biggest difference is a 2N3773 (higher BVCEO so safer) and a Big heat sink. Also some 2A very fast recovery, 200 PIV diodes. One , anode at base cathode to ground, the other's anode at the collector , cathoode again to XDBIWT ground. These clip the wave to a very sharp trailing edge for more efficiency and better I/V.
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