Shipping your X-Ray Tube Safely

Having your X-ray tube reloaded? Purchasing a new tube on exchange? Whatever your reason for shipping an X-ray tube, you can use these three tips to decrease the chances of damaging your precious cargo and having to pay more on the back end.

Use the Proper Packaging Material

The trick is to find material that is rigid enough to hold the weight of the X-ray tube but soft enough to absorb the impacts that come with shipping a large package. Try a combination of stiff HDPE foam (high density polyethylene) and cushion-like PU foam (polyurethane).

HDPE Foam	PU Foam

Use the HDPE foam as a sturdy base at the bottom of the package. This foam won't compress entirely under the weight of the tube, leaving plenty of shock-absorbing potential in the bottom of the container.

Next, surround the tube with a soft cradle of PU foam. This will keep the tube’s fragile glass insert safe during shipping by absorbing any side-to-side impact.

Ship with the Anode Down 

If your container will allow it, ship the tube with its anode down. This will prevent the anode from crushing the glass insert and creating a small oil spill. This will also lower the center of gravity and create a more manageable package. Most tubes have the anode clearly marked with text or a “+” sign.

Anode Side Down

Use an Appropriate Container 

If the tube you are shipping is on the lighter end of the spectrum, a cardboard box will do. If the tube is heavy, you’ll be better served by a sturdy container like a wooden crate. Once you cross over into crate territory, a freight service will most likely be needed to ship your package. This may be more expensive, but shipping freight generally gives your package a smoother, safer ride than a small parcel truck. 

CT X-Ray Tube Crate

Nobody likes dealing with the hassle or cost of a damaged shipment. If you follow the steps above when you ship your X-ray tube, you can greatly reduce the risk of damaging it in transit. Save money. Save time. Ship it right!

If you want to know more about purchasing, reloading, or servicing X-ray tubes, give us a call or leave us a comment.