Two independently articulated arms supporting an x-ray tube and x-ray detector, respectively, are mounted offset to the patient and controlled to simulate a wide variety of conventional x-ray positioners. The articulated arms provide for at least two axes of independent motion. An axis controller sends movement signals to each axis, and receives position signals from each axis to coordinate movement of the axes of the articulated arms according to a contained program. A network interface communicates with the axis controller for receiving at least a portion of the program over a network.