2.

FXE is an incredible technological breakthrough

FXE stands for “FeinFocus X-ray Emitter”. FeinFocus being the name of the company that created the original version of this X-ray tube back in 1982.

What is special about the FXE is that it was the first transmissive open-source X-ray tube to enable laminography. Developed in collaboration with the Fraunhofer Institute in Germany, no other X-ray source allowed such precision at nano scale. Since then, the FXE remained a reference in the world of inspection requiring the greatest rigor, more precisely in the field of electronics.

So, no surprise that FeinFocus raised the interest of Comet, known as a leader for industrial metal-ceramic x-ray tubes. In 2004, FeinFocus was integrated into Comet Group. Over time the FXE technology has grown in importance with the ever smaller parts that customers wanted to inspect.

Thorsten Rother, former product specialist at FeinFocus and current senior product manager at Yxlon, tells us the hype:

"When we decided to launch the first nanofocus FXE at a trade show in 2002, it wasn't finished. We used a fake tube. Anyway, the technology we were proposing was so disruptive that even with a dummy, it was an instant hit."

4.

FXE production has been transferred from Hamburg to Flamatt

In 2019, the Comet Group decided to become a one-stop-shop for industrial X-ray modules and, thus, to bring all tubes under the roof of the module business.

The logical step was to hand-over the production and development of all X-ray tubes to the Comet X-ray division. After the successful transfer from Yxlon to Comet X-ray, it is the latter division that is in charge of the production and sales of the FXE tube and modules. The teams, more focused on tubes and modules development, are more motivated than ever to bring the product to the next level.

Thorsten: “We are working very closely with Dirk Schneider, the new product manager, to understand and address the market needs. The collaboration happens to be very fruitful.”

6.

The potential of the FXE is about to be unleashed

Miniaturization is the name of the game due to the digitalization that is taking place in all areas of our society. Therefore no wonder customers are pushing the offering towards high-resolution tubes that allow for ever-more precise inspection of small parts.

Thanks to its extensive know-how in the semiconductor and electronics industry Comet is well positioned and can offer its customers a unique expertise in very complex and innovation-hungry markets.

The R&D teams are ready to tackle their customers’ challenges and are looking already for the next technological breakthrough with FXE.

The FXE open microfocus technology has a bright future ahead. Not only is it relevant to the increasingly miniaturized world seeking for precision and safety, but it is also in good hands. The focused teams are already thinking about what the FXE Microfocus X-ray Modules of the future could be.