Talk:X-ray generator

I have memories of seeing easily-accessed x-ray machines in shoe stores perhaps as late as 1955 or 1956. I guess the idea had been that shoppers could stick their feet inside to determine if the shoes were cramping their foot bones. A casual attitude, but the dangers weren't fully realized. The machines were already out of service, and would shortly be removed. reighnz (talk) 19:28, 9 February 2010 (UTC)

HV transformer etc

I don't think this article is quite right. In medical imaging, an x-ray generator refers to the high-voltage transformer and controlling electronics. It does not include the cables, x-ray tube and support structures. Drickey (talk) 14:50, 22 May 2012 (UTC)

Change name to "X-ray machine"?

I suggest moving this page to X-ray machine per WP:COMMONNAME. "X-ray machine" is the common name for this device in everyday usage, and also seems to be more common in medical literature than "X-ray generator". The term "generator" may also cause confusion with electric generators. --Chetvorno^TALK 09:11, 21 November 2015 (UTC)

I would rather not agree... See these links from different manufacturers:

• Medical X-ray generators
• Industrial X-ray generator
• Stationary X-ray generators

RadXman (talk) 12:43, 21 November 2015 (UTC)

I oppose the "X-ray machine" renaming. An X-ray machine may contain both an X-ray generator and an X-ray detector. The terms are not synonymous. Mikael Häggström (talk) 17:15, 15 April 2017 (UTC)

• Comment This is a very old discussion. But the article, if you read it, talks about X-ray generators used in conjunction with detectors. It discusses different types of X-ray imaging machines. The WP:COMMONNAME of X-ray devices for medical/industry/security use is an X-ray machine. The links from the manufacturers above are for the generator modules but that is not the focus of the article.

• [1]: manufacturer of x-ray machines
• [2]: The X-ray machine, which looks like a tube containing a large light bulb, will be carefully aimed at the part of the body being examined by the radiographer. They will operate the machine from behind a screen or from the next room.
• [3]: X-ray machines pass x-ray beams (a form of ionizing radiation) through a part of the body to produce images of the tissue, organs, bones, or teeth inside.
• [4]: X-ray machines for inspection of goods.

A google search of the term X-ray machine returns 1,460,000,000 results, over an order of magnitude higher than the term X-ray generator (101,000,000 hits). The article should be moved back to X-ray machine. Polyamorph (talk) 08:34, 13 November 2023 (UTC)

Redundant

While harmonizing this article with X-ray tube, I found the following text to be rather redundant. If you want to integrate it, please do so at X-ray tube. Mikael Häggström (talk) 17:17, 15 April 2017 (UTC)

X-ray photons are produced by an electron beam that is accelerated to a very high speed and strikes a target. The electrons that make up the beam are emitted from a heated cathode filament. The electrons are then focused and accelerated by an electrical field towards an angled anode target. The point where the electron beam strikes the target is called the focal spot. Most of the kinetic energy contained in the electron beam is converted to heat, but around 1% of the energy is converted into X-ray photons, the excess heat is dissipated via a heat sink. "Physics of X-RAY Production". Archived from the original on 2003-06-27. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |dead-url= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)^Dead Link</ref> At the focal spot, X-ray photons are emitted in all directions from the target surface, the highest intensity being around 60° to 90° from the beam due to the angle of the anode target to the approaching electron beam. There is a small round window in the X-ray tube directly above the angled target. This window allows the X-rays to exit the tube with little attenuation while maintaining a vacuum seal required for the X-ray tube operation. Other than the x-ray tube window or port the remaining portion of the x-ray tube housing is lined with lead to absorb all remaining x-rays not usable for image creation. X-ray machines work by applying controlled voltage and current to the X-ray tube, which results in a beam of X-rays. The beam is projected on matter. Some of the X-ray beam will pass through the object, while some is absorbed. The resulting pattern of the radiation is then ultimately detected by a detection medium including rare earth screens (which surround photographic film), semiconductor detectors, or X-ray image intensifiers.

The section on technological advances is way out of date. For example, the section's last paragraph cites a 2013 article, saying that new technology may be available commercially within three years. I did a cursory check and found no evidence of commercial availability. I would recommend removing this entire section from the article. At a minimum, the last paragraph of the section should no longer be considered accurate. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 76.16.143.94 (talk) 00:34, 17 July 2017 (UTC)