compareeHub

TURNING X-RAYS INTO 3D PRINTS WITH A DIY CT SCANNER

Turn X-ray snapshots into 3D-printable models with a homemade scanner rig that costs a fraction of the hospital version.

by Hyperspace Pirate

FULL CAD BOM FIRMWARE DOCS

ScienceDIY

Built withArduino

difficulty
●●●●●
time
several weekends
license
license not specified
repo
repo 0 stars
Videos
1
Jump to section

COMPAREE VERDICT

This is a documentation video, not a buildable project package. Hyperspace Pirate shows a working CT scanner built around a donated dental X-ray unit, an old phone camera triggered by a relay-driven touchscreen probe, an Arduino Uno controlling a stepper-motor turntable, and free reconstruction software. The results are genuine: a rat, a fish head and a pumpkin interior turned into 3D prints, with plenty of hot-pixel noise the creator himself says needs fixing. The video is detailed enough to follow the concept and briefly shows a wiring diagram, but there is no code, no written parts list, and most critically, no path to legally and safely source an X-ray source. If you already have access to an X-ray source and the permits to use it, the video will teach you the pipeline. If you do not, this is an inspiration piece, not a weekend build. The single biggest obstacle is not the Arduino or the software, it is acquiring the X-ray hardware without landing in legal trouble or hurting yourself.

GOOD TO KNOW

  • —No repository exists for this project.
  • —All build details come from a single YouTube video walkthrough.
  • —No written bill of materials, downloadable wiring diagram, Arduino code, or STL files are published; a setup diagram appears only briefly in the video.
  • —The X-ray tube was a one-off donation; sourcing an equivalent legally and safely is the hardest step.
  • —Software pipeline uses existing free tools (GIMP plugin, Cone-beam backprojection tool, 3D Slicer) but no custom scripts are shared.
  • —No stated licence; project is documentation-only, not a release.

Parts to buy

6 items

From our check of the build. Exact quantities and part numbers are in the creator’s BOM.

  • Donated or surplus X-ray tube (the blocking item)Find
  • Old smartphoneFind
  • Arduino UnoFind
  • Stepper motor and driver for turntableFind
  • Relay moduleFind
  • Basic electronicsFind

BUILDS OF THE WEEK

Five open-source builds worth your weekend, every week.

Checked like this one: what’s really in the repo, what it costs, how hard it is. One email, unsubscribe anytime.

Can I build this?

Printnothing required
Buydonated or surplus X-ray tube (the blocking item), old smartphone, Arduino Uno, stepper motor and driver for turntable, relay module, basic electronics
ToolsGIMP with custom plugin, Cone-beam backprojection tool (free, linked in video description), 3D Slicer (free), 3D printer for final output
Skillsadvanced electronics, firmware, image processing, and above all: radiation safety training and legal compliance
Timeseveral weekends if you already have the X-ray hardware; months to years if you are sourcing it legally
Cost$$$ — dominated entirely by the X-ray tube; if you must buy one commercially and get the permits, costs escalate into thousands
SafetyIonizing radiation is the central hazard. X-ray tubes require lead shielding, interlocks, dosimetry, and regulatory approval in most jurisdictions. Improper use can cause acute radiation injury or long-term cancer risk. Do not attempt this without formal training and legal clearance.

Build at your own risk. Projects involve tools, electronics and sometimes mains voltage — follow the creator’s safety notes.

Videos

Turning X-rays into 3d prints with a DIY CT scanner

Walkthrough of the complete build and software pipeline; no accompanying written guide or code repository.

More builds like this

All projects
A seabed sonar that logs on its own for months — the logger, housing and batteries cost 1,700 EURScienceYou can build the 15,000-dollar laser rig that measures flow, for 520 dollarsScienceYou can build three lab syringe pumps plus a microscope from Caltech's open design for under 400 dollarsScience

Gallery

Start here

Navigation into the creator’s own docs — we don’t rewrite the guide, we route you to the source.

  1. 1.Watch the full video to understand the hardware and software pipeline. (This is the only published documentation.)
  2. 2.Research X-ray tube sourcing and local radiation safety regulations before buying anything.(Most jurisdictions require permits, training, and inspections. Start here, not with the electronics.)
  3. 3.Download the free reconstruction tools: GIMP batch plugin, Cone-beam backprojection tool, and 3D Slicer.(The software half of the pipeline is open and documented.)

KNOWN ISSUES

  • The X-ray tube is not something you casually buy online. Surplus units exist, but shipping, import, and legal use all require paperwork. In many places you need a radiation safety officer sign-off before you power it on.
  • No Arduino code is published. You will be writing turntable control, relay timing, and scan sequencing from scratch, guided only by the video description.
  • Image reconstruction is not plug-and-play. The cone-beam backprojection tool has a learning curve, and noise or misalignment in the raw captures will ruin the 3D output.
  • The phone-as-camera setup requires precise triggering and stable positioning. Any vibration or drift across 100 shots will blur the reconstruction.
  • Shielding and distance are mandatory, and the video gives no shielding plans. The creator says the 2 mm lead on his earlier DIY X-ray machine was not enough and he had to run it remotely from far away; plan proper shielding, remote operation and dosimetry for yourself and bystanders.

Can I actually source an X-ray tube?

Surplus dental or industrial X-ray units occasionally appear on auction sites, but shipping and legal use depend on your jurisdiction. Expect permits, training requirements, and inspections. This is the single hardest part of the build.

Is there a repository with the code and files?

No. The project exists as a video walkthrough only. You will need to reverse-engineer the Arduino logic and fabricate any mechanical parts yourself.

What resolution can I expect?

The video shows reconstructions good enough to 3D print anatomical features of a rat skull. Exact voxel resolution depends on your X-ray spot size, detector pixel density, and how many shots you take around the rotation.

Is this legal to build at home?

It depends entirely on local radiation safety laws. In most of the US, for example, you need state registration, a qualified radiation safety officer, and periodic inspections. Check before you buy anything that emits ionizing radiation.

Community builds

No community builds yet — be the first, we feature the best ones.

Discussion1

FROM THE COMPAREE TEAM

This scanner was built around a donated X-ray unit, an old phone as the camera and an Arduino-driven turntable. If you had safe, legal access to an X-ray source, what would you scan first?

CompareeTEAM1mo agoedited

Practical notes from our verification: there is no repository and no published hardware files; the project lives in Hyperspace Pirate's video and its description. The creator reconstructed a rat skull, a fish head and the inside of a pumpkin into 3D-printable models, so the technique works, but the X-ray unit was a commercial machine donated by a Patreon member, and sourcing an equivalent safely and legally is the hardest step. The camera is an old phone triggered through a relay-driven touchscreen probe, and an Arduino Uno runs the probe, X-ray unit and stepper turntable. The software pipeline (GIMP batch processing, the Cone-beam backprojection tool, 3D Slicer) is free and linked in the description, but you are on your own for the firmware and mechanics. If you already have radiation safety training and access to an X-ray source, it is a valuable walkthrough; otherwise treat it as a proof of concept. Correction (4 October 2026): we re-checked this page line by line against the project's own repository, documentation and videos, and fixed errors in earlier versions.

Hyperspace Pirate

Hyperspace Pirate builds and documents high-effort DIY science projects on YouTube. The X-ray tube for this CT scanner was donated by a Patreon supporter, and the rest of the rig was assembled from salvaged and low-cost parts. The project demonstrates what is possible with surplus hardware and open software, even if the path to replicate it is steep.

Star the project on GitHub

DISCLAIMER

  • Comparee is not the author of the projects featured here. All rights to each project belong to its creator — every page links to the original source, and we never host creators’ files.
  • Information is provided without warranty and may become outdated as projects evolve. Prices are indicative bands only — always check the creator’s parts list for current costs.
  • Building and operating any project is at your own responsibility. Protective equipment, safe workshop practice and compliance with local regulations are the builder’s responsibility.
GitHub repo