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Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteFran Piernas built a reported, 3D-printed X-ray machine for imaging inanimate objects—not people. The project is an intriguing maker story, not a validated build guide or a safe home-use device: X-rays are ionizing radiation, and its high-voltage circuitry can cause electrocution. Hackster News’ 2019 report warns against exposing living subjects.
What Fran Piernas’ project was—and was not
Hackster News reported on January 16, 2019, that Piernas had built an X-ray machine from scratch. The article’s playful hook—“Well all know X-rays are cool — they let you see your own skeleton!”—quickly gives way to the central warning: the machine was intended for imaging inanimate objects, and living subjects should not be exposed.
The report describes a maker project, not a consumer product or a set of independently validated construction instructions. It does not establish the machine’s performance, shielding, emissions, or safety testing. The reported specifications should therefore be read as claims in that account, not as verified operating results.
What the report says the machine contains
The article names these parts and design details:
- A modified ZVS Mazzilli driver, described as producing 150 V at 110 kHz.
- A Cockcroft–Walton voltage multiplier, described as raising the voltage to 65 kV.
- A CEI OX/70-G4 X-ray emitter tube.
- An Arduino Uno for exposure-timer functionality.
- A 3D-printed enclosure designed in Autodesk Fusion 360.
These details do not amount to a build procedure. In particular, an exposure timer does not establish that radiation is contained or that exposure is safe, and a 3D-printed enclosure is not evidence of effective X-ray shielding.
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Why this is not a safe home-use project
X-rays are ionizing radiation
The report’s warning not to X-ray living subjects is essential. Ionizing radiation can harm living tissue; an exposure timer alone does not establish a safe dose. The sources cited here do not show that Piernas’ apparatus has verified shielding or measured emissions, so no claim that it is safe to operate around people is justified.
The high-voltage circuit can electrocute
The report also warns that the machine’s high-voltage components pose an electrocution hazard. The reported 65 kV multiplier output is a design specification from the article, not an independently verified measurement. Do not use the parts list as instructions for sourcing or assembling a device.
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What U.S. cabinet X-ray rules do—and do not—tell you
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration describes cabinet X-ray systems as enclosed systems designed to contain the irradiated material and keep people out of the interior during X-ray generation. A tube installed in a shielded part of a building is not automatically a cabinet X-ray system; classification depends on the device and its use. The FDA’s requirements for a defined product category do not show that this homemade machine belongs to that category or complies with its rules.
For cabinet X-ray systems, the FDA describes an external-emission limit of 0.5 milliroentgens in one hour at any point five centimeters outside the external surface. The figure is a standard for that category, not a measurement of Piernas’ machine. The FDA also describes interlocks, indicator lights, and warning labels as cabinet-system safety features. FDA: Cabinet X-Ray Systems; FDA: Medical X-ray Imaging.
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Ownership and use depend on location and classification
There is no supported blanket answer here about whether it is legal to own, assemble, or operate this particular homemade machine. The answer depends on jurisdiction, intended use, and how the device is classified. The FDA states: “Typically, FDA regulates the manufacture of the products and the states regulate the use of the products.” Workplace rules, including OSHA requirements, may also matter; medical X-ray imaging devices face additional medical-device requirements. Consult the relevant state radiation-control authority and qualified compliance professionals for a specific situation rather than assuming that a federal cabinet-system limit settles it.
Sources: FDA cabinet X-ray systems; FDA cabinet X-ray FAQs; OSHA, 29 CFR 1910.1096.
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How to interpret the project
It is reasonable to find the engineering concept interesting while treating the apparatus as hazardous and unverified. For legitimate inspection or imaging, the relevant comparison is between purpose-built cabinet inspection systems and medical diagnostic imaging—not between homemade devices judged by voltage alone. This report does not establish a safe DIY alternative or recommend components for one.
Quick Recap
Best Value
- VERSATILE FUNCTIONALITY: Measures AC/DC voltage up to 600V, 10A AC/DC current, 50MΩ resistance; additional features include continuity, temperature, capacitance, frequency/duty cycle and diode test
- LEAD-ALERT PROTECTION: LEDs on the meter illuminate to indicate proper test lead placement, enhancing accuracy and safety during measurements
- BACKLIT DISPLAY: LCD shows clear readings in low-light conditions for enhanced visibility
- ACCURATE MEASUREMENTS: Auto-ranging and True Root Mean Squared (TRMS) technology provides precise and accurate measurements
- CONVENIENT FEATURES: Test lead holders on the back of the meter, kickstand and optional magnetic hanger (Cat. Nos. 69445 or 69417) for hands-free operation
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