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

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.

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.

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.

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​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.

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.

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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

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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.

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