SciAps Handheld XRF Analyzer X-550
The premium standard for portable XRF — ultralight, blazing fast, and the most articulate XRF gun ever made.
At 2.98 lbs., the SciAps X-550 handheld XRF analyzer delivers alloy grade and chemistry in 1–2 seconds. Its class-leading 50 kV, 500 µA tube runs 3× the light-element power of a standard XRF — so even magnesium, aluminum, and silicon resolve fast.
One Analyzer, Endless Possibilities
Every X-550 is the same 2.98 lb. analyzer on the same Android platform.
Choose the build that matches your work.
X-550 Scrap
High-throughput sorting, detector protected
Built for the scrap floor. The patented Aluminum App sorts aluminum alloys in about 2 seconds — including grades that differ only by magnesium (3003/3004/3005, 356/357, 2014/2024, 1100-vs-6063) — measuring Mg down to 0.25%. Detector Protector Technology (DPT) comes standard with the Alloy App: a rigid, fine-grid, high-strength window that stops the punctures that kill ordinary analyzers in turnings.
- Detector Protector Technology — turnings must be finer than a human hair (100 µm) to reach the detector; 1,000+ units in the field, zero punctures.
- Aluminum App — ends the 3003/3004 and 356/357 mix-ups without a 20-second test.
- Contaminant P & S — 3× faster than the X-505, so copper and ferrous material upgrade economically.
- 1Excitation source — 50 kV, 500 µA, 5 W, Rh anode
- 2Detector — 25 mm² SDD, 140 eV
- 3Analytical range — 32 elements standard
- 4Weight — 2.98 lbs. (1.35 kg)
SciAps X-550 XRF Specifications
- Weight
- ~2.98 lbs. (1.35 kg) with battery
- X-ray tube
- 50 kV, 500 µA, 5 W, Rh anode (Au on Pb/environmental configs)
- Detector
- 25 mm² SDD, 140 eV FWHM (Mn Kα), 250k cps at >90% live
- Display
- Rear-facing color touchscreen, readable in all light
- Cameras
- Dual — targeting/weld view + macro photo-documentation & QR/barcode
- Connectivity
- Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, USB; SciAps Cloud-enabled
- Operating system
- Android, apps-based
- Grade library
- 500+ grades, multi-library, no practical limit
- Regulatory
- CE, RoHS, USFDA registered, Canada RED Act
Consumables and Accessories for the X-550
XRF Prolene Windows (24pk)Standard detector window; user-replaceable wear item (SKU 105-500034)SKU 105-500034→XRF Turnings Kapton Windows, 3mil (25pk)Tougher window for jamming into turnings and scrapSKU 105-500039→
XRF Wear PlateProtects the nose in abrasive environmentsSKU 104-500449→XRF Hot HeelProtects the front when testing hot or sharp materialSKU 401-500387→XRF Hard Case with FoamRuggedized transport and storageSKU 111-500018→
Zebra Printer KitInstant labels with grade ID and chemistrySKU 109-500001→X550Pb Extension PoleReach ceilings and trim without a ladder (Pb config)SKU 900-500149→
XRF Wood Block Pb Paint StandardHUD calibration-check standard (Pb config)SKU 112-500295→Other Analyzers to Consider
Where the X-550 goes to work
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast does the SciAps X-550 sort aluminum?
The X-550 measures magnesium down to 0.25% in about 2 seconds using its patented Aluminum App, so it separates aluminum grades that differ only by chemistry — like 3003/3004 or 356/357 — where slower guns force a downgrade or a 20-second test.
Is the X-550 Pb lead paint analyzer radioactive?
No. The X-550 Pb uses an X-ray tube, not a radioactive isotope, and holds accepted HUD PCS at all three action levels (1.0, 0.7, 0.5 mg/cm²) with no inconclusive range — eliminating isotope replacement, disposal, and licensing.
What is Detector Protector Technology on the X-550?
DPT is a rigid, fine-grid, high-strength window that prevents the detector punctures common when jamming an analyzer into turnings. It's standard on X-550 units with the Alloy App, and across 1,000+ DPT units in the field, not one detector has been punctured.
Should I buy the X-550 or the X-505?
Choose the X-550 for the fastest aluminum sorting, the lowest P/S test times, or lead-paint capability. Choose the X-505 for the same transition/heavy-metal precision at a lower price when a few extra seconds on light elements is acceptable.
Get Both With OneBox
Pair the X-550 with a SciAps Z-Series LIBS and cover every element and sample type — same batteries, cables, chargers, and accessories. LIBS analyzes what XRF can't (Li, Be, B, C, F, Na); XRF is great for transition and heavy metals.
Explore the OneBox