• Topic ID: id_16157883
  • Version: 3.0
  • Date: Nov 27, 2020 2:07:17 AM

Z-Align

Prerequisites

Overview

The purpose of the Z-Align procedure is to move the X-Ray Tube to be in alignment with the Detector and Collimator. The Detector and Collimator were aligned with the previous Tube, and Z-Align will correctly place the new Tube in the Z-Direction. The procedure can be summarized as follows:

  • Verify Tube Temperature is less than 200°C

  • Run Beam On Window (BOW) scan

  • Perform Tube Installation Certification, if needed

  • Calculate Z-Align

  • Move Tube

Figure 1. BOW Alignment Process Flow

Procedure

  1. Run the Beam On Window (BOW) alignment tool, take a scan, and calculate the movement vectors. See the Beam on Window Alignment procedure for more details.

    Figure 2. Beam on Window Alignment GUI (BB Tube)

    note: Above illustration is only GUI example, each product should have its correct specs shown on the system.

    Figure 3. Beam on Window Alignment GUI for BrightSpeed Select systems with a Solarix tube

  2. Perform Tube Installation Certification, if needed. Refer to SmarTube™ Setup.
  3. Determine system type. For RT systems, the correction factor is 1/5.5 -- otherwise, the correction factor is 1/4.85.
  4. Calculate the z-align movement. (This is the amount that you will move the tube. The direction will be either forward or backward [towards the table or the slip ring].)
    1. BOW Measured = Movement vector for MIDDLE CHANNEL (The High and Low channel vectors can be noted to see that the detector is not skewed, but do not use for tube movement calculation)
    2. Tube Z movement = BOW Measured / Correction Factor (for either unit, mm or in)
    3. Move the tube by Z movement value amount in the OPPOSITE direction that the flats measurement tells you to.

      Example:

      BOW Movement vectors:

      • BOW high channel: -0.446mm -0.018in

      • middle channel: -0.653mm -0.026in

      • low channel: -0.611mm -0.024in

      If the movement vectors are negative (-), move the POR adjuster screw clockwise (CW).

      If the movement vectors are positive (+), move the POR adjuster screw counter-clockwise (CCW).

      • (For RT) In this example, you would move the tube 0.119mm (0.005in or 1.04 flats) clockwise (cw). [0.653mm / 5.5 = 0.119mm OR 0.026in / 5.5 = 0.005in.]

      • (For Non-RT) In this example, you would move the tube 0.131mm (0.005in or 1.04 flats) clockwise (CW). [0.653mm / 5 = 0.135mm OR 0.026in / 4.85 = 0.0054 in]

  5. Install a dial gauge for the POR adjustment on the dial mounting bracket.
    note: See appropriate tube change procedure for illustration of dial mounting bracket.
  6. Loosen the tube mounting bolts 1 turn maximum.
  7. Using the POR adjustment screw, adjust the tube according to your Z-align calculated value.
  8. Tighten the tube mounting bolts. You should find that tightening the bolts gradually in a cross pattern will reduce tube shifting during tightening.
    note: Exercising patience while tightening the bolts will result in accurate positioning and reduce the number of Z-Align iterations.
  9. Run another BOW scan to verify that the alignment is within specifications. If it is not, repeat z-align procedure.
  10. Turn M12 tube mounting bolts to pre-load torque specification as shown in Table 5.
  11. Apply final torque on all four M12 bolts according to the values specified in Table 6.

Finalization

No finalization steps.