Advent calendar 2024

MetalJet: The silver garland boosting X-ray power!

Like the silver garland in the holiday tree boosts the festive spirit, the MetalJet anode boosts the X-ray flux. Thanks to the high-speed, continuously regenerated anode surface, a MetalJet X-ray source can operate at significantly higher power levels compared to other X-ray tubes.

Read more.

Light up your X-ray knowledge!

Have you ever wondered:

• How do I compare X-ray sources?
• What’s the difference between flux, intensity, flux density, and brightness?
• How does X-ray optics and sources work together?

Unwrap the mystery with our latest white paper!

Download your holiday reading here.

Twinkle, twinkle, little star…

… and the little X-ray star generated in the NanoTube is truly little. X-ray spots in the 300 nm range can be generated at the push of a button thanks to the advanced e-beam technology with a very high degree of automated feedback. And with exceptional cathode lifetime these little stars can be applied to applications where uptime is key.

Read more.

Unwrapping the mystery of sharpness!

The penumbra effect is like the blurred edge of a shadow – it happens when the light source isn’t a perfect point. In the same way in X-ray imaging, a larger X-ray spot size creates fuzzier images.

Today’s takeaway:
For the sharpest images, keep your X-ray spot size small and focused – because in imaging, clarity is the ultimate gift!

Learn more.

Tiny beams, big impact!

Small, precise and bright electron beams form the heart of high-performance X-ray sources.

How we do it!
Combining high precision electron focusing optics, Tungsten/diamond transmission target technology controlled by advanced algorithm, and software. Easy and fast switching of different imaging modes can be done with high accuracy to optimize any measurement condition.

These beams enable unparalleled brightness and sharpness, powering X-ray sources for advanced imaging applications.

Learn more.

Your advent of X-ray clarity awaits!

While cutting-edge technology is impressive, it’s the results that truly count. Discover how 150 nm resolution X-ray imaging pushes boundaries, capturing intricate details at the nanoscale.

Using Siemens star and JIMA resolution targets, this remarkable capability has been proven in real-world applications, delivering the clarity and reliability needed for breakthroughs in materials science, electronics, and beyond. It’s a game-changer for researchers and industries requiring unmatched X-ray image clarity.

This holiday season, let’s celebrate not just innovation, but tangible proof that make a real difference.

More on this.

Custom X-ray solutions on your wish list?

At Excillum, we don’t just provide the world’s most advanced X-ray sources. We can also partner with you to innovate. Whether you need groundbreaking resolution, higher flux, or unique configurations, our experts work hand-in-hand with you to push the boundaries of what’s possible in X-ray technology.

The future of X-ray technology starts with collaboration. Will you be part of it?

Partner with us.

Extreme 3D X-ray resolution for HBM stacks!

This holiday season, we’re giving you a glimpse of the power of high-resolution 3D X-ray imaging.

Check out our short film showcasing:

• 20 µm HBM microbumps captured in stunning detail.
• 5 µm TSVs revealed with extreme clarity.

It’s a celebration of innovation and precision—pushing the limits of X-ray technology to unlock the secrets of advanced semiconductor structures.

Stay tuned for more exciting insights this week!

More to read.

Ultra-high-speed 3D X-ray of HBM stacks in just seconds!

Yesterday, we explored the incredible high-resolution 3D X-ray imaging of HBM microbumps and TSVs. Today, we’re turning up the speed! With the NanoTube N3, you can achieve remarkable 3D X-ray results in just 30 seconds. Imagine combining precision with speed to capture detailed insights  

This holiday season, we celebrate technology that delivers exceptional results – faster than ever. Stay tuned for more breakthroughs! 

Presented at ESREF2024. 

Thanks to Spectrum Logic for loaning the detector.  

Unwrapping the secrets of advanced packaging! 

Holiday gifts aren’t the only packages getting fancier – packaging in electronics is continuously becoming more complex and versatile to accommodate ever increasing performance demands.  

But unlike Christmas gifts, these advanced packages need more than shiny paper and bows – they demand a multitude of  innovative materials, technologies and processes. Applying 3D X-ray on a sample provided by 3DiS Technologies containing  3D RDLs  and hollow core TPVs reveals key insights into the package such as roughness, defects, RDL short and open thickness control etc.    

Because when it comes to electronics packaging, you can’t just shake it to see what’s inside!  

Thanks to Ayad Ghannam of 3DiS Technologies for providing the sample and SEM image.

Presented at Semicon Europa 2024.  

Acknowledgement
HiCONNECTS has received funding from Chips Joint Undertaking (Chips JU) under grant agreement No 101097296. Chips JU receives support from the European Union’s Horizon Europe research and innovation programme and Austria, Italy, Germany, Netherlands, Israel, Finland, Switzerland, Hungary, Sweden, Turkey, France, Denmark and Romania. 

3D insights of hybrid bonding

Hybrid Copper Bonding is revolutionizing interconnect technology, enabling more interconnects and higher bandwidth. But how do you inspect something so small?

Enter 3D X-ray imaging with the NanoTube N3 – a game-changing tool for R&D and failure analysis. With high-resolution 3D imaging, it has the capability to reveal the intricate details of these tiny structures.

Case in point: We’ve applied 3D X-ray to visualize 1.5 µm hybrid bonds connecting the 3D V-Cache to the CPU core in a processor – delivering clear insights into this cutting-edge technology.

Presented at the Nano Testing Symposium (NANOTS) in Osaka, Japan, Nov 2024. 

Revealing hidden challenges of MLCCs with 3D X-ray!

Multilayer Ceramic Capacitors (MLCCs) might be cheap and mass-produced in the trillions, but they hold a world of complexity—and can often be the root of big problems.

That’s where high-resolution 3D X-ray imaging comes in. This powerful, non-destructive tool provides the insights needed for failure analysis and quality control, ensuring you get the right answers at the right time.

This holiday season, our gift to you is more detailed and faster 3D analysis of MLCCs making your job easier and faster.

Learn more.

Shining X-ray light on the building blocks of advanced packaging

As advanced electronic packaging grows more intricate, the need for precise failure analysis becomes crucial.

Enter 3D X-ray: a powerful tool for resolving these complex structures in 3D with sub-micron resolution.

In our latest study performed in collaboration with Ericsson, we scanned a cutout from an embedded multi-die interconnect bridge (EMIB) using the NanoTube N3 nano-focus X-ray source.

The results? Micron and sub-micron defects clearly revealed, enabling detailed failure analysis and advancing the boundaries of precision imaging.

Let’s celebrate the tools that bring clarity to complexity this holiday season!

Download the paper here.

Unwrapping the future of battery inspection: A holiday gift of innovation!

This holiday season, we’re unwrapping revolutionary possibilities for lithium-ion battery inspection!  

With the demand for batteries soaring, our high-throughput 3D X-ray imaging at one-second speeds is like finding the perfect gift under the tree: efficient, precise, and groundbreaking for defect detection and root-cause analysis.  

Want to see this technology in action? Check out the video and discover how it’s transforming production efficiency and yield.

Let’s make manufacturing more efficient—one second at a time. 

Read more.

Checking the list twice – CT inspection style!

 This season, we’re all about finding and fixing flaws before they can ruin the party! CT inspection is a versatile tool for different stages of battery manufacturing: 

• During assembly: Automatic defect detection in real time ensures immediate corrective actions, eliminating yield losses faster than Santa’s sleigh.  
• Post-formation: High-precision metrology provides insights into critical features like cathode dimensions, boosting battery performance and consistency.  

With advanced CT inspection, we’re helping ensure that every cell delivered is as perfect as a snowflake—minimizing risks and maximizing reliability for EVs.  

Want to learn more? Let’s connect and keep your production on the nice list this holiday season! 

Lightning-fast X-ray imaging in microseconds!

Using our MetalJet X-ray source, we’ve captured detailed X-ray images of an Apple Watch in just microseconds at micron resolution! This technology allows real-time insights into intricate electronics and components with incredible speed and clarity, to enable studying dynamic processes.

Stay tuned for more innovation and breakthroughs this holiday season!

A gift of precision for battery safety 

This holiday season, give your battery production the gift of accuracy! Anode-cathode (AC) overhang is a critical parameter for ensuring battery safety and reliability. When the cathode overhangs the anode, the risk of failure increases – something no manufacturer wants under their tree.  

Unfortunately, conventional 2D inspection systems often leave gaps in measuring AC overhang. But with high-speed 3D X-ray inspection, powered by the MetalJet E1+ X-ray source, you can unwrap precise, reliable data in under a second – perfect for high-volume manufacturing. 

See how 3D X-ray inspection outshines 2D for accuracy and safety. 

Make quality control your holiday tradition. Learn more here! 

Lightning-fast CT scanning – faster than Santa’s sleigh!

A few days ago, we showcased a 1-second CT scan of the anode-cathode (AC) overhang in a prismatic cell. But did you know we can go even faster?
For smaller cylindrical cells, such as 2170 cells, our advanced CT technology enables region of interest scans in as little as 0.2 seconds—all while maintaining acceptable signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). That’s precision at the speed of holiday magic!

Check out these examples of ultra-fast scans and imagine the possibilities for high-throughput inspection during battery production.

More on 3D X-ray for battery production.

Unwrapping the gift of nanoCT for battery material 

This week, we’ve been showcasing how our MetalJet X-ray source can supercharge battery production by increasing yield and speeding up ramp-up times. Now, it’s time to unwrap another holiday gift—the NanoTube!

Our NanoTube is the perfect X-ray tube for nanoCT, delivering unique insights into the structure of battery materials. It’s an ideal tool for materials science, battery research, and failure analysis – just in time for those looking to dive deeper into the heart of battery innovation.   

Ready to see the magic? Check out how our NanoTube is opening new doors for the future of battery tech! 

Want to make your research even more dazzling this holiday season? 

Read more.

Webinar highlight: Brighter X-rays for Diffraction & Crystallography

X-ray diffraction is advancing, enabling scientists to tackle more complex and challenging research! Listen to our webinar and discover how the MetalJet X-ray source can empower your research with brighter, sustainable X-rays for your home lab.

In this webinar, you’ll:

• Learn how MetalJet solves crystallography challenges
• Explore user cases in protein and small molecule crystallography
• Discover how MetalJet enhances challenging XRD applications

Don’t miss this chance to expand your research capabilities!

View the full webinar here.

High-end HPXRD now in your home lab!

With the launch of the MetalJet E1+, high-pressure X-ray diffraction (HPXRD) has taken a leap forward! Achieve monochromatic 24 keV beams with focus sizes down to 10 µm and unprecedented brightness, making cutting-edge HPXRD performance accessible no only at the synchrotron beamlines.

Our partner Proto now offers a turn-key system featuring the MetalJet E1+ to fully leverage this technology for your most demanding HPXRD applications.
Discover the future of high-end diffraction — from the comfort of your own lab!

Read more.

Bringing synchrotron power to the lab in a SAXS-WAXS beam line!

Discover the latest in nano materials characterization with the lab-based SAXS-WAXS beamline, developed by scientists at UCSB in the BioPACIFIC Materials Innovation Platform.

Powered by an Excillum 70 keV liquid metal jet X-ray source equipped with highest precision optics from AXO and a Dectris Eiger 4M hybrid photon counting detector ensures this cutting-edge instrument enables performance comparable to 2nd generation synchrotrons.

Learn more in the links below:
Case study
Webinar

Christmas eve highlight!

We’re thrilled to reveal our latest high speed imaging example using the extreme-brightness MetalJet source, capable of enabling 2D X-ray motion pictures consisting of 50 µSecond frames at micron-level resolution on electronic components illustrated here with an Apple Watch! This means unprecedented speed and detail, making even small structures shine with stunning clarity in time resolved measurements.

A bright future for imaging — powered by MetalJet!

The best gifts are yet to come!

As we wrap up the year, we want to wish all our customers, partners, and friends a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! Thank you for an amazing year of collaboration and innovation.

But the excitement isn’t over – we have even more in store for 2025!

Stay tuned for what’s next! Sign up to receive exclusive updates.

Here’s to a bright and innovative New Year!