Sample loader - automate your CT system in 24/7 mode

21 Aug 2025
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CT scanner automation – sample loader (
In industry, every minute a tomograph sits idle is a cost. To turn these lost hours into scan time, RX Solutions has developed an automatic sample loader for its Explorer, Nano, and Force line tomographs, adapting to the different existing platforms. The sample loader can chain together the scanning of 5 to 10 samples without operator intervention, including at night and on weekends.

Integrated into the cabinet, it requires no additional floor space, can be ordered with the machine or added as a retrofit, and is controlled entirely from the X-Act software. You maximize your equipment’s utilization rate while reducing your operating costs.
10 samples

Up to

+50 %

Up to 50% more scans completed per week

24 /7

Scans by day, by night, and on weekends

0 m²

of floor footprint, retrofit possible

Why automate your CT scans?

Unlock your production potential
 

By preloading a series of samples, you can launch analysis cycles that will run automatically, at night and over weekends, without requiring an operator to be present.

  • More scans per week: night and weekend slots become productive machine time.
  • Maximized utilization rate: no more need for an operator to start the scan of each part.
  • Sustained throughput: R&D, quality control, or pre-production, the tomograph keeps pace with rising volumes.
  • Refocused teams: the operator loads once, then devotes their time to analysis and higher-value tasks.
  • Lower night and weekend costs: no staff to mobilize on off-hours shifts to run the equipment.


 

How does the sample loader work?

The internal sample loader integrates seamlessly into the environment of your RX Solutions tomography platform. It stores and presents several samples for a 3D scan. The sample loader integration can be included from the order or installed later.

The process is simple:

  • You load the samples and set up the scans.
  • The machine automatically picks up each sample.
  • It performs the tomography according to your defined parameters.
  • It automatically moves on to the next one.
  • Results are available for reconstruction and analysis.
  • If you have built macros for repeatable parts, the reconstruction and post-processing processes can also be automated.

Sample loader characteristics by platform

PlateformEasyTom SEasyTom LEasyTom XL
PositionigCompact solutionExtended autonomy, robot-readyHigh capacity
Max capacity5 samples6 samples10 échantillons
Accepted diameters5 × Ø 47,5 mm or 3 × Ø 75 mm6 × Ø 70 mm or 3 × Ø 120 mm10 × Ø 45 mm or 5 × Ø 90 mm
Max height160 mm220 mm270 mm
LoadingManual, on the loader Through the door, motorized arm, robot possible Loader in front of the cabinet entrance
Sample loader – CT automation

EasyTom S: the compact solution

Our most compact platform, the EasyTom S, is equipped with a sample loader that lets manufacturers and researchers alike automate their system to save time on scanning small samples.

  • Loading: manual, directly on the loader
  • Capacity: up to 5 sample slots
  • Accepted dimensions: 5 parts ≤ Ø 47.5 mm or 3 parts ≤ Ø 75 mm
  • Maximum height: 160 mm
  • Advantage: each slot can receive dedicated scan parameters and run sequentially.



Sample loader – automation through tomography

EasyTom L: the most versatile platform

The EasyTom L platform is robot-ready and offers extended autonomy: load the samples at the door, then a secure motorized arm stores them inside the system.

  • Loading/unloading: manual or internal arm from the door, which unfolds at human height.
  • Capacity: up to 6 samples
  • Accepted dimensions: up to 6 samples of Ø 70 mm, 3 samples of Ø 120 mm
  • Maximum height: 220 mm
  • Advantage: optimal position for a loading robot

Sample loader – automation through tomography

EasyTom XL: the high-capacity solution

On the EasyTom XL platform, the loader is placed directly in front of the cabinet entrance for a more ergonomic solution.

  • Loading / unloading: loader placed in front of the cabinet entrance for optimal ergonomics
  • Maximum capacity: 10 samples
  • Accepted dimensions: 10 samples of Ø 45 mm or 5 samples of Ø 90 mm
  • Maximum height: 270 mm

All sample loaders and the complete programming are handled through our X-Act software.

What gains can you expect from the sample loader?

  • Increased operation: +30% to +50% more scans completed per week
  • Reduced operator costs: more output, less operator presence
  • Repeatability & traceability: creation of repeatable macros to launch a new batch of scans in a few clicks.
  • Reduced risk of human error: a single launch, no repeated manual entry.
  • Software productivity: the time and productivity savings are not limited to running the scan. They can also be automated through macros, reconstructions, and post-processing in software such as VG Studio or Dragonfly.
  • Scalability & retrofit: the loader can be added later to an EasyTom that is already installed.


    Because the sample loader is built directly into the machine, no additional floor footprint is needed. The robotic interface is not mandatory, but if you want to use a robotic solution for loading/unloading the tomograph, our systems are perfectly designed for it.

Typical use case – the MNHN

The  Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle de Paris  has increased its 3D scanning capacity through the acquisition of an RX Solutions Explorer EasyTom S system equipped with an automated sample loader. This automation system, coupled with 3D-printed sample holders and optimized by macros in our X-Act control software, enables fast, automated scan sequences that drastically reduce manual interventions while considerably increasing scanning capacity. This configuration proves particularly effective for processing large volumes of specimens with morphological similarities, as the summer 2024 gastropod project perfectly illustrates, where up to 100 specimens per day were scanned non-destructively, with sizes ranging from 3 mm to 10 cm.

The sample loader thus transforms the workflows of the AST-RX platform, making it possible to move from a handcrafted approach to a near-industrial approach to scientific tomography, where the macro reload function automatically saves and applies the optimal parameters for batch scans and reconstructions, freeing teams from repetitive tasks so that they can focus on data analysis and the scientific interpretation of results.

Discover the case study between the MNHN and RX Solutions  


Sample loader with 3D-printed holders
Sample loader with 3D-printed holders
2D radiographic view of the gastropods
2D radiographic view of the gastropods
Gastropod reconstruction
Gastropod reconstruction

 The sample loader turns your high-resolution microtomography into a true autonomous inspection system . Double your scanning capacity, optimize your machine time, and make every minute of operation pay off.


Discover the platform that suits your application


At RX Solutions, we offer 3 lines of tomographs: the Explorer, Nano, or Force line. These lines can then be customized with our series to match your applications and business constraints. For production constraints, there is the FAB Series, and for dimensional measurements, the Metrology Series.


Product lines
EXPLORER
NANO
FORCE
Platforms
EasyTom S
EasyTom L
EasyTom XL
EasyTom B
EasyTom L
EasyTom XL
UltraTom
EasyTom L
EasyTom B
Series
Metrology Series



Fab Series





Performance
Resolution
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
Sample density
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
EXPLORER EasyTom S
Series
Metrology Series   
Fab Series   
Performance
Resolution            
Sample density            
EXPLORER EasyTom L
Series
Metrology Series   
Fab Series   
Performance
Resolution            
Sample density            
EXPLORER EasyTom XL
Series
Metrology Series  — 
Fab Series   
Performance
Resolution            
Sample density            
EXPLORER EasyTom B
Series
Metrology Series  — 
Fab Series  — 
Performance
Resolution            
Sample density            
NANO EasyTom L
Series
Metrology Series   
Fab Series  — 
Performance
Resolution            
Sample density            
NANO EasyTom XL
Series
Metrology Series  — 
Fab Series  — 
Performance
Resolution            
Sample density            
NANO UltraTom
Series
Metrology Series   
Fab Series  — 
Performance
Resolution            
Sample density            
FORCE EasyTom L
Series
Metrology Series   
Fab Series  — 
Performance
Resolution            
Sample density            
FORCE EasyTom B
Series
Metrology Series   
Fab Series  — 
Performance
Resolution            
Sample density            



Discover the 3 RX Solutions lines Force – Explorer et Nano

Dental part scanned by Explorer micro-tomography Aerospace part in metal additive manufacturing 

EXPLORER

Versatile micro-tomography

2 µm RESOLUTION
300 kV SOURCE VOLTAGE
< 1 µm MIN. VOXEL

Reveal the invisible at the micron scale.

Access the finest microstructures, porosities and interfaces with a resolution down to the nanometre scale.

Platforms Easytom S · Easytom L · Easytom XL · EasyTom B
 Discover the Explorer line      
Microscopic structure analysed at nanometric resolution Life sciences, Wood

NANO

Nanometric analysis

250 nm RESOLUTION
160 kV SOURCE VOLTAGE
30 nm MIN. VOXEL

Reveal the smallest details with nanometric precision.

Nanometric resolutions to characterise microstructures, porosities and interfaces at a scale that optical microscopy cannot reach.

Platforms Easytom L · Easytom XL · Ultratom
 Discover the Nano line      
Electronic component inspected by Force high-energy tomography Titanium additive manufacturing injector 

FORCE

High-energy solution

4 µm RESOLUTION
450 kV SOURCE VOLTAGE
250 kgs Load up to

See through the densest materials.

Inspect thick metal parts, complex assemblies and highly absorbing components with optimal image quality.

Platforms Easytom L · Easytom B
 Discover the Force line      


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FAQ: Sample loader

What is a sample loader in tomography?
The RX Solutions automatic sample loader is an in-house, near-autonomous analysis solution built into our tomographs, making it possible to scan several samples without operator intervention, automatically and quickly, during the day as well as in the evenings and on weekends.
What is the difference between the sample loader and a robot-ready solution?
The sample loader, integrated into our systems, adds no floor footprint. It automatically chains scans together without handling the machine or switching off the X-rays: once the parameters are set, different parts can be processed one after another. By contrast, a robotic solution feeds the tomograph directly for an in-line cadence; it requires a safety perimeter and outside space for the robot and parts storage. It is ideal for quickly scanning identical batches.
Can the sample loader be used in the evenings and on weekends?
As soon as the parts are installed on the loader and the scan parameters have been entered, the tomograph runs autonomously from the first scan to the last. Scans can therefore be performed in the evening or on weekends.
What changes compared with manual operation of my tomograph?
The main difference is that the tomograph does not need an operator present to start the next scan, thanks to the sample loader. As long as scans are scheduled, the system will run autonomously.
How many parts per day can I scan with the sample loader?
It depends on the size of your tomograph: depending on the system and the sample size, you can load between 3 and 10 parts. The size and the material of the part are also important in determining the duration of a scan.
Can I put any type of part in the sample loader?
Yes, as long as the part fits in the sample loader and the material to be penetrated matches the power of your X-ray tube
Can I really automate my scans from acquisition to post-processing?
Absolutely. While the sample loader automates the scanning (acquisition) phase, macros also let you automate the reconstructions and post-processing of a part once an identical scan has already been performed.
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