SciAps X-250 XRF Analyzer (scrapper) – Ultra-Fast, High-Performance Sorting for Aluminum Alloys and Metals
The SciAps X-250 is a handheld XRF analyser engineered from the ground up to offer industry-leading speed and precision in alloy identification and scrap sorting — including aluminum alloys, stainless steels, specialty alloys, and mixed-metal scrap. Designed especially for high-throughput scrap yards, foundries, recycling centers, and metal-processing plants, the X-250 delivers rapid results without compromising analytic power.
—
Key Features & Strengths
Lightning-fast alloy and scrap sorting
- Using an optimized X-ray tube and a special “Aluminum App,” the X-250 can sort ~ 90% of aluminum alloys in just 2 seconds, and up to 100% in around 4 seconds.
- The instrument measures critical light-alloy elements — notably Mg and Si — up to 10× faster than conventional handheld XRF units.
- Detection limits can go as low as ~ 0.25% Mg and ~ 0.15% Si for aluminum alloys, enabling clear differentiation even between closely related grades.
Broad alloy and metal compatibility
- Beyond aluminum, X-250 handles a wide variety of metals and alloys: stainless steels, high-temperature alloys, red metals, turnings, mixed scrap, specialty alloys.
- Maintains the typical strengths of XRF: precise detection of transition metals and heavier elements (Cr, Cu, Zr, Zn, Mn, etc.), which is essential for accurate sorting of non-ferrous and ferrous alloys.
Advanced hardware & detection system
- Equipped with a Silicon Drift Detector (SDD), delivering high sensitivity and resolution.
- Uses a sophisticated excitation source with selective beam settings: for aluminum-alloy mode, a specific low-voltage/high-current beam is used (e.g., 500 µA at 10 kV), while for other alloy modes, a standard high-voltage beam (e.g., 6-50 kV at 200 µA) is available.
- 6-position filter wheel for beam optimization — enabling improved detection across a wide element range depending on sample material.
Field-ready, user-friendly design
- Portable handheld form factor; light enough for continuous use in scrap yards or foundries.
- Touchscreen interface (smartphone-style), with modern data-management features and connectivity (e.g., USB, Bluetooth, WiFi) for easy result export and integration.
- Built for real-world industrial environments: designed to withstand rough handling, yet easy to operate even with minimal operator training.
—
Typical Use Cases & Applications
- Scrap metal recycling & sorting** — rapid differentiation of aluminum alloys (e.g., 3000 series, 6000 series, 7000 series), stainless steels, mixed-metal scrap, turnings — with high throughput and minimal delays.
- Foundries & metal-shaping plants — verification of alloy composition before melting or processing; quality control over incoming scrap.
- Non-ferrous metal processing — sorting and separation of copper, brass, bronze, aluminum, and other non-ferrous alloys.
- Specialty alloy verification — when small composition differences (e.g., Mg or Si content in aluminum, trace alloying elements) matter for final product quality.
- Industrial scrap yards & metal recovery operations — maximize yield by fast and accurate alloy identification, avoid mixing different alloy types, improve throughput and profitability.
—
What Distinguishes X-250 from Other Portable XRFs
- Speed: No other handheld XRF combines fast light-element (Mg/Si) detection with the general versatility of standard alloy modes — enabling mass-sorting of aluminum alloys in seconds rather than tens of seconds or minutes.
- Dual-mode flexibility: With both “Aluminum App” for light-alloy sorting and conventional alloy/scrap modes for heavier metals, X-250 adapts to diverse streams of scrap and materials.
- Reliability and throughput: For operations requiring hundreds or thousands of scans per day (scrap yards, recycling centers), the X-250’s speed and robustness deliver tangible gains in productivity.
- Cost-effectiveness: By reducing measurement times and manpower per scan, the X-250 can significantly reduce operational costs compared to slower or lab-based methods.
—
Summary — Why SciAps X-250 Is a Top Choice for Metal Sorting & Recycling
For scrap recyclers, metal processors, foundries, and anyone needing to sort or verify large volumes of metal alloys — especially aluminum — quickly and reliably, the SciAps X-250 offers a compelling combination of speed, precision, and versatility. Its specialized design (including a dedicated Aluminum mode) ensures that even difficult-to-distinguish aluminum alloys can be separated with confidence — while still retaining full capability for common ferrous, non-ferrous, and specialty alloys. In short: the X-250 makes high-throughput metal sorting practical, efficient, and profitable.