X-550 XRF Analyzer

The new standard in XRF

The SciAps X-550 sets a new performance standard for handheld XRF. Weighing 2.98 lbs. (1.3 kg) with the battery, it’s the lightest, fastest, most articulate XRF analyzer ever made. It delivers the small size, blazing speed and high precision of the SciAps X Series in a perfectly balanced device. It’s fast on all alloys, including aluminums. The X-550 uses the industry’s most powerful X-ray tube for NDT and recycled materials analysis, operating up to 3x the power in the Beam 2 setting compared to the SciAps X-505 and other handheld XRF analyzers. The unique geometry and tube power optimize performance for low atomic number measurement applications including sulfidic corrosion (low Si), phosphorus and sulfur, and aluminum alloys, as well as for residuals analysis per API 751 and 5L specifications.

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Applications

NDT-PMI

Delivers PMI for most alloys in 1 second with excellent precision.

Delivers PMI for most alloys in 1 second with excellent precision. Some NDT-PMI applications require longer tests, or multiple beam tests. Our Android apps-based platform provides pre-configured, dedicated apps to make quality testing by every operator as easy as using a smartphone – including apps for residuals (API 751), sulfidic corrosion (API 939), API 5L and other testing. Read X-550 Alloy Specifications.

Optimized for key PMI applications like Residuals and Sulfidic Corrosion.

For many PMI applications, fast tests are sufficient for verification of alloy grade and geochemistry. More complicated applications require longer test times or multi-beam operations (one beam optimized for transition and heavy metals; the other for low atomic number elements Mg, Si, Al, P and S). Dedicated apps ensure testing follows correct procedures, such as recommended test times and X-ray beam settings. For example, the Residuals app defaults to 15-second test times due to the need to measure Ni, Cr and Cu at <0.03% each (sum <0.15%) and Nb and V at <0.02%. The Sulfidic Corrosion app is preconfigured to require two-beam tests in order to measure Si down to 0.03% in steels.

Designed for NDT, PMI users to access hard-to-reach test locations and welds.

Perfectly balanced, light weight, and articulate, you can test all day long without fatigue. The narrow footprint permits total access to virtually any test location and weld.

Scrap Processing

Great on high temp alloys and precious metals.

Like most XRFs, the X-550 provides fast, precise chemistry on the wide array of high temperature alloys, stainless, red metals and precious metals. What’s different is the toughness of this metal-framed analyzer, that’s yet incredibly light weight (< 3 lbs.) and in perfect balance. Use it for sorting all day long without fatigue. The on-board cell phone camera (macro camera) allows for photo-documentation of materials tested, and the Bluetooth label printer provides instant hard copy labels with time/date stamp, grade ID and chemistry.

Featuring the Aluminum App: Sort all your Al alloys in 1-2 seconds.

If you’re a scrap processor, the one reason to buy the X-550 over the X-505 is the blazing speed and accuracy on aluminum alloys. The X-550 features our patent pending Aluminum App. It sorts your aluminum alloys in 1-2 seconds, including those alloys that differ only by magnesium (Mg) content. Grades that were either impossible to sort with other XRFs or take minutes of testing time, such as 3003/3004/3005, cast 356 and 357, and 2014/2024, are just a few examples. You can now sort many similar Al grades economically. See our “Guide to Aluminum Alloy Sorting.”

Contaminant Phosphorus & Sulfur

The high powered X-ray tube in the X-550 provides fast analysis of phosphorus (P) in copper and P and sulfur (S) in steels and stainless, allowing you to economically upgrade your copper and ferrous material based on low P and S levels. The X-550 is 3x faster on P and S than is the X-505 or competing XRFs. Faster testing times make upgrading material for low P and S more economical.

Tramp Elements

Scrap processing has moved beyond just grade sorting. Many consumers now demand analysis on tramp or residual elements in common steel, nickel and copper alloys. The X-505 is optimized for low detection limits on common tramp elements, including Cr, Ni, Cu, V, Nb, Mo in steels, Pb and Bi in nickel alloys, and various undesired elements in copper alloys.

Mining

Now available for exploration and ore grade control applications. The benefit of the X-550 for geochemistry is fastest possible analysis on low atomic number elements in ore/soil samples including Mg, P, S, Al, Si, Ca and K. Contact us for details about our exploration apps for elemental analysis and pathfinder elements. SciAps XRF analyzers are utilized worldwide by many major exploration companies and mining laboratory services companies. Also available with compact test stand for closed-beam operation. Read X-550 Geochemistry Specifications.

Soil

The X-550 may be equipped with apps for elemental analysis of environmental soils. The analysis package includes the 8 RCRA metals and 11 of the 12 EPA priority pollutant metals (excepting beryllium – use our LIBS for that). The X-505 complies with the long standing EPA Method 6200.

RoHS Applications

The X-550 is available with our RoHS and Halogen-Free apps, offering fast, precise analysis of the RoHS elements Pb, Cd, Br, total Cr and Hg, plus Cl for halogen-free requirements. The high powered tube in the X-550 provides faster Cl analysis compared to the X-505.

General Analytical

Do you have a unique analytical applications? The X-505 can be equipped with our Empirical App, allowing the user to set up unique beam conditions, define specific elements of interest and create custom calibrations. For analytical requirements outside the realm of alloys, ores and polymers, the X-505 plus Empirical App offers complete flexibility for unique or proprietary analytical requirements. .

A brief comparison: X-550 vs. X-505

What’s the difference between the premium X-550 and the workhorse X-505 models? The answer is simple: Speed on low atomic number elements such as Mg, Al, Si, P and S. The X-550 runs at about 3x the X-ray power in the “Beam 2” setting (also known as the low voltage setting) compared to the X-505 or other handheld XRF analyzers. This means the measured intensities from Mg, Al, Si, P and S (plus K, Ca and Cl in other apps) are 3x higher, producing 3x faster measurements. A few common examples are shown below

Application

X-550

X-505

Comment

Measure 0.3% Mg in aluminum alloy

2 seconds

7 seconds

For example, sorting Al 356 from 357.

Measure 0.1% Si in steels

6 seconds (1s Beam 1; 5s Beam 2)

16 seconds (1s Beam 1; 15s Beam 2)

Sulfidic corrosion, requires Si > 0.1% in steels.

Measure P and S in steels or stainless

For a given concentration level, about 3x faster than X-505.

Actual test times depend on the specific concentration level of P and S.

Analyze low atomic number elements in mining samples

Measures Mg, Al, Si, P, S, Ca and K 3x faster than X-505.

Measures these elements well, with comparable speeds to other high-end XRFs.

X-550 offers faster test times for major metals, sulfides and contaminant P.

Weight

2.98 lbs. (1.35 kg) with battery

Excitation Source

40 kV, 200 uA Rh anode and 10kV, 500 uA for alloy testing, 50 kV, 200 uA Au anode for most other apps.

Calibration

Fundamental parameters. For Geochem and Environmental Soil apps, users may also choose “Compton Normalization” method and/or use empirically derived calibrations.

Dimensions

8.5 x 9.5 x 2.4 inches

Detector

20 mm2 silicon drift detector (active area), 140 eV resolution FWHM at 5.95 Mn K-alpha line.

Calibration Check

External 316 stainless check standard for calibration verification and energy scale validation.

Power

On board rechargeable Li-ion battery, rechargeable inside device or with external charger, AC power, hot-swap capability (60s max swap time).

X-Ray Filtering

4 position filter wheel for beam optimization.

Analytical Range

32 elements standard, specific elements vary by app. Additional elements may be added upon user request.

Display

2.7-inch color capacitive touchscreen, 400 MHz Qualcomm Adreno 306 2/D/3D graphics accelerator. Rear-facing display for easy results viewing, readable in all conditions.

Processing Electronics and Host Processing

1.2GHz quad ARM Cortex A53 64/32-bit, RAM: 2GB LP-DDR3, Storage: 16 GB eMMC (storage).

Available Apps

Alloy, Fast Aluminum, Mining, Soil, Precious Metals, Car Catalysts, RoHS, Empirical, HUD Lead Paint. New apps are added regularly.

Security

Password protected usage (user level) and internal settings (admin).

Pulse Processor

12 bit with digitization rate of 80 MSPS 8K channel MCA USB 2.0 for high-speed data transfer to host processor. Digital filtering implemented in FPGA for high throughput pulse processing 20 nS – 24 uS peaking time.

Grade Library

Standard library contains 500+ grades, no practical size limit. Multiple libraries supported, grades may be added on analyzer or via PC software package (ProfileBuilder).

Regulatory

CE, RoHS, USFDA registered, Canada RED Act.

Environmental Temp. Range

10°F to 130°F at 25% duty cycle.

Simply the best lead paint analyzer ever made

No radioactive sources, no isotope replacement.

X-550 Pb Analyzer

X-550 Pb employs an X-ray tube that uses an electric current under high voltage to produce X-rays. The latest X-ray tube and detector technology deliver the fastest and most accurate lead paint results. Read the HUD PCS.

‍X-ray eliminates radioactive isotopes. No isotope replacement costs, isotope disposal costs, or regulatory and financial burden for owning and tracking radioactive materials. Read the press release.

‍The X-550 Pb complements existing applications. Select a rhodium X-ray tube anode or gold X-ray tube anode, depending on whether you also want to perform environmental testing for EPA Priority Pollutant and RCRA metals, or alloy or mining materials analysis. Optional apps include Lead in Soil, Alloy, Geochem (Mining), Empirical, Environmental Metals. Coming soon: Lead in dust wipes and air filters (NIOSH 7702). Read the Specifications.

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X-Ray tube guaranteed for at least 5 years

Fastest lead paint analyzer

Test in 2-6 seconds, and never lose speed over time. As soon as the X-550 Pb determines the lead paint level is above or below the action level at 2-standard deviation (95%) confidence, the test is automatically terminated. Based on PCS testing at action levels of 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 mg/cm², most tests end in two seconds, and the longest test is six seconds.

Highest accuracy

No substrate corrections, no inconclusive ranges or tests, even for action levels as low as 0.5 mg/cm² (Rh anode). Choose completely automated Quick Mode for PCS types of testing, or Timed Mode for industrial lead paint testing.

No radioactive isotope

Greatly reduces the burden of owning and controlling radioactive materials and costly isotope replacement. Moreover, the test times are the same in five years as the day you purchase the analyzer – one of the many advantages of X-ray tube technology.

We did it again! Another first from SciAps

SciAps delivers the first non-isotope handheld XRF with accepted PCS at three action levels for HUD lead paint assessments.

The PCS data set demonstrates the instrument’s ability to accurately identify samples as positive or negative according to the federal action level for residential lead paint, which is 1.0 milligrams of lead per square centimeter. The X-550 Pb also has accepted PCS at action limits of 0.7 mg/cm² and 0.5 mg/cm². It’s one of only two instruments to achieve this standard, and the only non-isotope instrument ever to hold a PCS at all three levels. According to the PCS, SciAps X-550 Pb delivered no false positives, no false negatives, and no inconclusive tests, even at the 0.5 mg/cm² level (Rh anode). SciAps technology team has succeeded in making a lead paint analyzer for HUD/EPA work that eliminates the need for a radioactive isotope, greatly reducing the regulatory burden of owning and controlling radioactive materials and eliminating costly isotope replacement.

The Cloud, connectivity, and Android

The X Series is built on Google’s Android platform for real-time data exporting. The user interface has the feel of a smart phone with results easily viewed on a vibrant display and reversible light/dark for all lighting conditions. Built-in Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS and USB mean that users can print and email from the X-550 Pb and connect to virtually any information management system for efficient test data and report.

Multi-system users? SciAps Cloud data and fleet management system is also available. Collect and monitor lead paint measurements in real time, from anywhere. Eliminate the burden of exporting, cutting and pasting test data in spreadsheets and reports.