Yes, this is normal.

The sound of an x-ray machines since the late 1890’s have been described as a rattle, buzz, burp, shake, vibration, etc.

A typical 30kW generator pulls 50kW of incoming power, the same amount of power as:

1. 50 microwave ovens set to full power
2. 500 light bulbs rated at 100 W
3. 5000 LED light bulbs rated at 100W

All this power moves through the wires, conduits, circuit breakers, contactors, inductors, switches, transformers, and finally to the x-ray tube. When this happens, the electric currents create huge magnetic fields which just shake everything in their vicinity.

How should the end user be trained:

1. Assure the end user that this is normal and safe.
2. Notify the end user that by the time the patient hears, processes, and responds to the sound, the x-ray is over. The radiograph is not affected.
3. The end user can always notify the patient that the generator will buzz, and its nothing to be worried about.

What can be done to minimize the sound:

1. Place the generator in a different room than the patient. A common location is in the room with the operator console.
2. If it must be in the room with the patient, then place the generator as far away from the patient (wallstand and table) as possible.
3. Add a sound absorbing room divider (such as a fabric cubicle wall) between the generator and the patient.
4. Add sound absorbing materials on the office walls (decorative acoustic tiles), ceiling(acoustic tiles), floor(carpet) to minimize sound reflections.
5. Listen to the walls to check for wires shaking in the conduits. That’s a sign of the wire gauge being too small (see generator TDS sheet for appropriate incoming line wire size).