Breaking the Limits of High Power and High Resolution:
How the FF35 CT with the New HDP Target Revolutionizes HDD and Precision Component Inspection

Thailand stands as one of the world’s premier manufacturing hubs for hard disk drives (HDDs) and data storage equipment, serving as a critical cornerstone in the global tech supply chain. With the recent trajectory toward massive storage capacities, mechanical components such as magnetic head assemblies, actuators, and spindle motors inside modern HDDs demand absolute precision. Sub-micron assembly tolerances and minute material anomalies can fundamentally determine overall product reliability.

Developed by Comet Technologies (*), a Switzerland-headquartered global pioneer in X-ray technology, the high-end industrial computed tomography system FF35 CT introduces a vital technological milestone. It delivers a perfect symbiosis of “penetration power” and “micron-scale resolution” for highly complex mechanical parts. In this post, we explore this cutting-edge X-ray CT technology, highlighting how it empowers storage device manufacturers to secure a competitive edge in quality assurance.
(* Effective March 30, 2026, the German legal entity was renamed to Comet Technologies Germany GmbH. However, the high-end X-ray and CT system solutions will continue to be marketed globally under the trusted “Comet Yxlon” brand.)

The Dilemma of Inspecting High-Density Metal Assemblies

Non-destructively evaluating high-density metal components—such as HDD cases, baseplates, or internal structural elements—requires significant energy (high tube voltage and wattage) for the directional X-ray beam to penetrate. However, conventional X-ray tubes presented a persistent engineering dilemma.
As power increases, the focal spot of the electron beam on the target material naturally expands, causing image blurring and a drop in spatial resolution. Conversely, narrowing the focal spot to maintain high-resolution limits the maximum permissible power, leaving inspectors to choose between noisy, underpenetrated scans or excessively long inspection times that are unfeasible for process control.

Unprecedented Leap: The New HDP Target

This long-standing industry trade-off is solved by the new High Density Power (HDP) Target for the 225kV microfocus directional beam tube, available as an optional setup for the FF35 CT.
Engineered with high-density materials and state-of-the-art water-cooled stability, the HDP Target achieves a twofold increase in power density over standard targets. This enables the system to generate a higher usable X-ray dose at significantly smaller focal spot sizes. Operators can maintain a constant high-power output (e.g.200W) while effectively halving the focal spot size (such as reducing the spot from Φ240µm to 120µm).

Non-Destructively Seeing Through Intricate Micro-Mechanisms

Leveraging the powerful penetration of the FF35 CT and the precision of the HDP target, the system non-destructively visualizes complex multi-material HDD assemblies down to the individual layer, excelling in the following applications:

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  Suspension and Head Gimbal Assembly (HGA) Analysis

  Evaluates the entire profile of the suspension, including slider attitude, pitch/roll angles, and baseplate deformation under high-contrast visualization to detect structural abnormalities after final assembly.

• Micro-Clearance Verification Between Actuator Arms and Platters

  Inspects critical internal clearances and gaps that govern read/write reliability. The actual structural clearance can be directly measured and checked in 3D tomographical cross-sections.

• Spindle Motor and Bearing Structures

  The high power of 225kV easily penetrates dense fluid dynamic bearings and spindle structures. This enables detailed structural analyses of coil distributions, thread integrity, and focus gaps inside the motor housing.

High-Precision 3D Dimensional Control with CT Metrology

For precision R&D and QA engineering, visualization is only the first step; accurate quantifiability is paramount. The FF35 CT is available in a specialized Metrology Edition designed to capture nearly unlimited measuring points in a single scan.

• Traceability Backed by German Standards

  Fully compliant with the strict VDI/VDE 2630 guideline for industrial CT coordinate metrology, the system offers a maximum permissible error for size measurement of MPE SD = 5.9µm + L/75 [L = measuring length in mm], providing undisputed data validity.

• Environmental Isolation and Granite Core Stability

  Constructed on a heavy granite-based manipulator bed and safeguarded by an active, smart-fan cabin temperature regulation system, the system eliminates thermal expansion errors and external shop-floor vibrations to secure perfect repeatability.

System Implementation & Technical Services in Thailand

In Thailand’s rapidly expanding data storage, semiconductor, and automotive electronics manufacturing sectors, superior yield optimization and high-grade quality control are key differentiators. The HDP target-equipped FF35 CT provides a powerful answer to modern high-density inspection, guiding manufacturing lines to achieve reliable, traceable non-destructive measurement solutions.

As the local sales agent for Comet Technologies in Thailand, we are pleased to support your implementation planning. After installation, ongoing technical support and preventive maintenance are directly handled by the Comet Yxlon manufacturer-direct technical support team permanently stationed in Thailand.

We welcome the opportunity to schedule a technical discussion or a remote/on-site demonstration using your actual components or dense mechanical parts. Please feel free to reach out to us with any questions regarding penetration capabilities, material matching, or dimensional metrology limits.