Streamlining X-ray diagnostics: Introducing the BLOX Modules for Automation
June 23, 2026
Maximizing system uptime in industrial X-ray applications requires consistent, friction-free access to component data. With the introduction of the BLOX Modules for Automation, Comet X-Ray simplifies the data collection workflow, enabling operators to seamlessly transition from rigid maintenance schedules to continuous, preventive health monitoring.
Data-driven insights are the foundation of modern predictive maintenance. With the launch of the BLOX Health Monitoring system, we started enabling operators to transition from reactive troubleshooting to proactive component care, tracking the performance and longevity of iXRS X-ray tubes and generators.
However, the value of any diagnostic tool depends heavily on the accessibility of its data. To further optimize this workflow, we are introducing the BLOX Modules – a software utility designed to simplify, accelerate, and automate data extraction from your Comet X-ray generators.
Moving beyond periodic maintenance
Previously, collecting the diagnostic reports for the BLOX platform required a manual process. Technicians had to physically access the generator USB-port and connect a USB flash drive, or log into the WebUI with their credentials on a connected PC.
Reports were typically pulled only once every 6 to 12 months, or reactively after an unplanned breakdown had occurred.
Thanks to the new BLOX Modules, data extraction can be reduced to a single click action, enabling operators to seamlessly pull reports regularly and moving the diagnostic workflow from periodic observation to true preventive maintenance.
Minimal footprint, instant deployment
The BLOX Modules are engineered for maximum integration flexibility with zero impact on existing system architectures.
- No hardware modifications: The solution is entirely software-based.
- No generator updates required: There is no need to update core firmware.
- Rapid deployment: The system utilizes simple executable files, allowing implementation to begin immediately.
The core "Easy-Download" functionality relies on just two files: a signed Windows executable (.exe) file that triggers the report download, and a configuration file pre-set with the target generator’s IP address and designated storage folder. When the executable is launched, a progress window opens, automatically routing the diagnostic data to the specified folder.
Modularity across different system configurations
Because industrial X-ray environments vary significantly, the BLOX Modules adapt easily to the three primary deployment scenarios:
Scaling to fully fledged automation: direct vs. restricted internet access
Depending on the IT infrastructure and cybersecurity restrictions of the facility, the modules scale from a local tool into an automated data pipeline using a four-file framework (one signed executable and a config file for the download, and one signed executable and credential file for the upload functions). See how this can look like:
Optimize your diagnostic workflow
Transitioning from reactive fixes to proactive uptime management requires consistent, frictionless data. By removing data extraction barriers, the BLOX Modules make routine health monitoring effortless.
Want to explore the details and bring the modules to life?
Contact your account manager directly.
Latest Posts
In his blood: Johnny Søreng on managing the high-stakes shift between X-ray and phased array at Aker Solutions
July 13, 2026
Born just minutes from the yard where his grandfather and father worked before him, Johnny Søreng literally has Aker Verdal in his blood. Now leading both Phased Array and X-ray inspections, he is tasked with solving a daily puzzle: choosing the exact right technology to spot defects before massive offshore structures are shipped out. Read on to explore how modern NDT integration keeps heavy production lines moving in perfect synchronization.
Read moreFocus topic. Battery manufacturing process control: Why gigafactories fail at scale
July 09, 2026
Scale is visible, control is not. Battery manufacturing today is often discussed in terms of scale. Gigafactories are announced, capacity targets are published, and investment volumes are tracked closely. These indicators are easy to measure. Control is not. Yet control ultimately determines whether scale creates economic value. Without stable processes, expanded output does not translate into predictable yield, protected margins, or reduced risk. Instead, hidden variability accumulates in the background. Ramp-up is commonly described as a temporary phase in which processes stabilize and performance improves. Many facilities remain in extended ramp-up conditions far longer than expected. The symptoms are rarely dramatic. Yield plateaus persist. Scrap increases gradually. Root causes remain only partially understood.
Read moreNDT tough. Interview with Benjamin Nordstad, Level II inspector at Aker Solutions
July 02, 2026
Eighteen-year-old Benjamin Nordstrand is one of Aker’s youngest apprentices, working in non-destructive testing at the Aker Verdal construction site in Norway. His story reflects what it means to combine precision, responsibility, and the will to learn.
Read more