In the spring of 1998 LogiK Research completed our second vacuum chamber test rig. Both of these rigs were designed to simulate the conditions inside an X-Ray tube so that bearings could be evaluated under various conditions. Generally, the bearings are the primary failure mode for an X-ray tube. Learning what contributes to bearing failure could significantly reduce costly X-ray tube replacements.

The solid model of the bearing tester

An image of the body of the vacuum chamber

The bearings are exposed to a thermal gradient inside of the X-ray tube. Below are a few images of the assembly that will house the bearings and the shaft. All the pieces pictured in the top left image were braized into one assembly, as seen in the right image. The copper pieces were designed to act as a heat sink in order to produce the correct thermal gradient across the bearings

Finally, the completed test rig. The wheel in the left image is used to put the entire chamber on an angle. This produces different loading conditions on the bearings which in turn may change the life expectancy.