Eastern Applied Research

  • Analyzer Sales
    • Coating Thickness >
      • Hitachi FT110A
      • Hitachi FT230
      • XStrata920
      • Hitachi FT160
      • Contact Gauges
    • Elemental Analyzers >
      • Hitachi EA6000VX
      • Hitachi EA1400
      • Hitachi EA1000AIII
      • Hitachi EA8000
      • Phthalates Tester
      • Bulk Analyzers
    • Handheld XRF Analyzers >
      • Alloy Tester
      • Xmet Video Demos
      • Sample XRF Report
      • XRF Rental Info
    • Used XRF Analyzers >
      • Available Used XRF
    • Other Technologies >
      • Handheld LIBS
      • Spectrophotometers: UV, NIR, FL
    • Mexico XRF Sales
  • Applications
    • Coating Thickness >
      • Common Coating Thickness
      • Ultra Thin Thickness
    • RoHS Testing
    • Analytical Labs
    • Alloy Analysis >
      • PMI: Alloy Testing
    • App Downloads
  • Service & Standards
    • Standards Laboratory >
      • New XRF Standards
      • XRF Standards Certification
      • Private Label Services
    • Instrument Services >
      • XRF Certification
      • Evaluation / Repair
      • Handheld XRF Services
      • Handheld XRF Spares
      • Xray Radiation Safety Inspection
      • Protection Plans
    • Accreditations
  • Technology
    • Tech Blog
    • What is XRF?
    • XRF Benefits
    • XRF Resources
  • Contact / About
    • Contact
    • About
    • Join the Team
    • Testimonials
    • Sales Policy
  • Analyzer Sales
    • Coating Thickness >
      • Hitachi FT110A
      • Hitachi FT230
      • XStrata920
      • Hitachi FT160
      • Contact Gauges
    • Elemental Analyzers >
      • Hitachi EA6000VX
      • Hitachi EA1400
      • Hitachi EA1000AIII
      • Hitachi EA8000
      • Phthalates Tester
      • Bulk Analyzers
    • Handheld XRF Analyzers >
      • Alloy Tester
      • Xmet Video Demos
      • Sample XRF Report
      • XRF Rental Info
    • Used XRF Analyzers >
      • Available Used XRF
    • Other Technologies >
      • Handheld LIBS
      • Spectrophotometers: UV, NIR, FL
    • Mexico XRF Sales
  • Applications
    • Coating Thickness >
      • Common Coating Thickness
      • Ultra Thin Thickness
    • RoHS Testing
    • Analytical Labs
    • Alloy Analysis >
      • PMI: Alloy Testing
    • App Downloads
  • Service & Standards
    • Standards Laboratory >
      • New XRF Standards
      • XRF Standards Certification
      • Private Label Services
    • Instrument Services >
      • XRF Certification
      • Evaluation / Repair
      • Handheld XRF Services
      • Handheld XRF Spares
      • Xray Radiation Safety Inspection
      • Protection Plans
    • Accreditations
  • Technology
    • Tech Blog
    • What is XRF?
    • XRF Benefits
    • XRF Resources
  • Contact / About
    • Contact
    • About
    • Join the Team
    • Testimonials
    • Sales Policy

Different XRF Chamber Sizes to Meet a Variety of Metal Finishing Applications

4/6/2022

0 Comments

 
One of the first questions associates of Eastern Applied Research ask when talking to customers looking to add x-ray fluorescence (XRF) for coating thickness measurements is about their sample size and throughput goals. Obviously, metal finishing touches on a lot of industries and various components in those industries. Depending on the use, an XRF could be measuring small fasteners with varying heights, thin but wide samples like unpopulated circuit boards, large samples like brake pads or many others in between.
 
It's important to discuss the product (samples) the XRF user will be testing because they need to know a sample will fit into the XRF chamber. The throughput question will factor into manual vs programmable operation and focusing options – but that can’t happen unless the size question is covered.
Low cost XRF options for small or large samples
One of the most popular XRF analyzers for coating thickness applications is the Hitachi X-Strata920. This model has been available for over twenty years (with updates along the way), first gaining popularity as the CMI-900 and CMI-XRX series by Oxford Instruments because of its ease of use and compact footprint
 
It’s also popular because it offers a relatively low-cost XRF option that provides consistent performance with very limited issues. Hitachi recently made Silicon Drift Detector (SDD) technology available as an option but it’s also offered with Proportional Counter Detectors. “Prop-Count” detectors are historically popular for metal finishing needs but SDD is desirable for thin film applications like ENIG and ENEPIG.
Learn more about XRF Detector Options Here
 
While newer XRF options like the Hitachi FT110A offer a large chamber, the X-Strata920 has three different chambers that fit different sample size needs. This approach limits the XRF footprint and helps keep certain configurations to the lower cost side of XRF, so it really fits more budgets than others without looking at Used XRF options.
 
The three chambers are summarized below. Please contact Eastern Applied Research to discuss the quality control needs of your quality control process and the samples involved. We can help identify analyzer options for your consideration, both in the X-Strata family or others.
lowest cost xrf for small samples
Best XRF Option For: limited budget, small samples, and lower volume of testing

​STANDARD BASE

This simple design makes the X-Strata920 one of the lowest cost new XRF analyzers available. It is built for manual alignment of samples, offering a slotted chamber design with a fixed stage and an internal chamber that provides up to 1.3” of Z height. Operators can either place one sample at a time or use a sliding plate to manually align samples. It works best for measuring small samples (nuts, bolts, fasteners or even small circuit boards) that don’t require high throughput. This standard base also comes with a ‘wide base’ option for longer parts that may benefit from the slotted chamber design.


​MINI-WELL DESIGN

This option is very similar to the standard base but offers options to manually extend the Z height to different intervals. Depending on the size of the sample, operators can remove a plate and place it as different levels from as low as 1.3” or as high as 6.3” when the plate is removed completely. Between those levels, there are four different height options.
XStrata920 XRF for various samples
Best XRF Option For: limited budget while still meeting a range of sample sizes
This provides some versatility in sample size while still offering a lower cost XRF option.  This makes it ideal for metal finishers on a budget because they can move the stage plate up for small samples or remove it completely for larger ones. A metal finisher considering the X-Strata920 with mini-well would also consider the Hitachi FT110A because of the sample size flexibility both provide.

Picture
Best XRF Option For: high volume testing needs, small and thin samples
XY MOTORIZED STAGE
The only motorized stage option offered in the Xstrata920, this base has an XY stage with movement in four directions. Designed more for quality control of PCB’s, the slotted design and motorized stage that can be programmed to measure multiple locations without operator involvement which helps with throughput and overall laboratory efficiencies. In addition to PCB’s, the programmability can also increase efficiency with smaller samples too…using a jig and hitting different areas.
As mentioned, this XY Stage chamber is most often used by circuit board manufacturers, so it’s often combined with the SDD option and used for ENIG and ENEPIG testing. 
​
Read more about why SDD XRF is used for ENIG and ENEPIG here

All three chambers have additional options for a future user to consider like different collimator sizes, plating bath measurements (solutions analysis), and more. So, when searching for a low cost XRF analyzer, the X-Strata920 should be reviewed and customized to your needs. Contact Eastern Applied Research to discuss your quality control needs and learn about all the options available.
Review the X-Strata920
Contact xrf sales
0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Archives

    March 2025
    January 2025
    November 2024
    October 2023
    June 2022
    April 2022
    December 2021
    July 2019
    May 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    July 2017
    May 2017
    January 2017
    August 2016
    February 2016
    July 2015
    June 2015
    September 2013
    March 2013
    November 2012
    July 2012
    December 2011
    November 2011
    July 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011

    RSS Feed

    Suscribe to our email newsletter

Suscribe

More news & Info

Blog
Contact Us
About Us
Accreditation
Proudly powered by Weebly