From the field. The XP 06-06 vs. HP11 X-ray tube
July 01, 2025
The new Xtra Performance, XP, tube is designed as the natural successor to the HP11. To provide engineers and technical buyers with a clear, no-nonsense view of what changes matter and why, we sat down with Tony Williams, Head of Sales in the Americas, for a brief Q&A.Â
Tony, what is the single most significant advantage the XP offers over the HP11?
The short answer is image quality. XP uses a 15° target angle, compared to the 11° angle in HP11. The wider angle is designed to improve both the signal-to-noise ratio and the contrast-to-noise ratio. While measured results don’t show a significant difference in SNR or CNR, engineers often report crisper images and improved usability in real-world scans. In practice, this means you can work with lower exposure settings, which supports both higher throughput and longer tube life.
Beyond cleaner images, how does XP affect day-to-day productivity?
Two features stand out. First, the larger field of view allows you to scan a larger area per rotation, which can reduce the total scan time. Second, XP has two identical focal spots that are thermally and electrically separated. If one spot becomes unavailable, you switch to the other and keep running. That redundancy protects uptime without any service call.
Many engineers worry that a larger focal spot hurts resolution. Does the 0.6 mm spot change what users can detect?
In almost every case, no. We, along with several partners, ran side-by-side tests and observed equal or better resolution on XP compared to HP11. Minifocus tubes like these comfortably resolve features down to roughly 300–400 µm. If your spec sheet calls for below 200 µm, you would already be looking at a MesoFocus or open microfocus tube. For users in the typical HP11 window, XP is a drop-in upgrade.
Key Takeaways
- Image quality upgrade 15° target angle improves SNR/CNR for sharper data.
- Productivity boost. Larger FOV and no tilt requirement reduce cycle time.
- Built-in redundancy. Dual focal spots ensure systems continue to run even if one fails.
- No resolution penalty. Detects 300–400 µm features; unchanged for typical HP11 applications.
- Long-term reliability. Improved cooling and filament management extend service intervals.
Cabinet CT systems often tilt the HP11 to increase flux on the detector. Does XP need the same workaround?
It doesn’t. XP can be mounted without tilt, so the effective focal spot stays true. With the HP11, tilting can increase the effective spot size from 0.4 mm to approximately 0.6 mm. Eliminating that step simplifies mechanical design and keeps native resolution intact.
Reliability consistently appears in customer RFQs. What should they know here?
The dual-spot design I mentioned is the headline feature. Each spot is electrically and thermally independent, so if one fails, you can switch to the other without downtime. That kind of built-in redundancy protects uptime. While the overall thermal design is comparable to HP11, controlled filament use and fewer unplanned thermal events still contribute to longer filament life and more predictable maintenance intervals — something procurement teams notice.
If an existing HP11 user is on the fence, what is the decisive argument for switching?
You gain faster scans, better baseline image quality, and built-in redundancy without changing software workflows. In most upgrade projects, the ROI comes from higher daily throughput and less unplanned downtime — not flashy specs, but the numbers add up quickly on a production line.
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