Your location: Home  >  Blog  >  XRF Technology
5 Steps to Select Best Handheld XRF Analyzer
Date: 16/12/2022 | read: 432


Here are 5 steps to find best Handheld XRF Analyzer that is perfect for you.


Some well-known brands such as AXR Scientific and Thermo Niton have produced the best quality XRF Handheld Analyzers. But do you know which Handheld XRF Analyzer is best for you.

1. Select the proper detector


Firstly, you must identify what actions you want to give to the sample, and what data you need. If you have, you must determine the type of detector you need. There are two types of detectors, namely PIN and SDD. Like Terra900 is equipped with a Si-pin detector and Terra900S is with a SDD detector.  To determine which detector you need more, you certainly need to recognize the characteristics of both PIN is older and cheaper than SDD. However, when compared to SDD, PIN has a lower sensitivity level. For those of you who want to research samples with light elements such as aluminum, sulfur, magnesium, and phosphorus, SDD can be the right choice. Meanwhile, when compared  to Si Pin detector, the SDD detector  has faster  speed and  lower limit of detection (LOD)..



2. Determine the anode


The anode of the x-ray tube is fixed; you are unable to change an anode material due to this material being on the inside the vacuum of the x-ray tube.  Getting the anode material correct is critical for both a single XRF application instrument, as well as instruments for multiple XRF applications, because, in many ways, it defines the application capabilities of the instrument.  Therefore, the choice of anode material strongly depends on the particular XRF application.

For HHXRF, there are two major classes of x-ray tube anode types, ‘light element’ anodes, specifically for exciting light elements with absorption edges below about 3 keV, and ‘general use’anodes for exciting elements higher than about 3 keV.

Anode materials commonly used in XRF Analyzer include rhodium, silver, and tungsten. For lightweight elements such as magnesium and aluminum, sliver can be a good choice. Ag anode is good for light elements. We had done experiments testing and then we think Ag is good choice as an Anode. If you are familiar with Thermo Niton, which is a leading Handheld XRF in the world, also adopt Ag anode for all their analyzers and for light element.

If you feel that research requires documentation, you need to choose an analyzer equipped with a camera. If you analyze areas that tend to be small, you need an analyzer equipped with a collimator feature. Furthermore, if you need fast and efficient data transfer, you must pay attention to the availability of data transfer features such as Wi-Fi etc.




3. Select specifications according to the working environment


Before choosing which handheld XRF Analyzer best for you, you also have to consider the environment where you work. This is because the environment will also affect the durability of the tool you are using. As for several factors you need to consider, such as the IP rating, drop tested, and operating temperature of the product you want to buy.

For those of you who work in extreme environments, you need to pay attention to its IP rating and operating temperature. This is because two parameters mentioned before indicating the resistance of the analyzer to dust, water, and extreme temperature. Moreover, you also need to pay attention to the drop tested of the product that you want to choose. The more resilient it is, the longer the possibility that the tool can be used.


4. Purchasing Cost


After reading the steps above, have you determined which handheld XRF Analyzer is best for you? If not, you can also search further through reviews of previous users. Choosing an XRF Analyzer is indeed not easy because each has the advantage of different features. Therefore, the most important thing is that you have to choose products with features that support and complement each other. Handheld XRF Analyze is an asset investment.  What you need is the most suitable analyzer, not the most expensive one. Therefore cost is an important factory when you make a purchasing decision.  The ROI and price performance ratio is very necessary to consider when you make a decision, especially for metal scrap dealers.


5. Owning Cost


Knowing the maintenance for the after sales is also very important. Talking with your supplier or the manufacturer’s distributors to see what expense may occure when you own the handheld XRF analyzer and some routine maintenance and even for an extended warranty  and maintenance scheme, which can be more economic if you buy the optional service when you start buying the analyzer.




AXR Scientific is a high-tech manufacturer focusing on the development and application of X-ray technology products. It is committed to becoming a world-class supplier of X-ray industrial inspection solutions.AXR Scientific currently offer handheld XRF analyzer, handheld alloy analyzer, handheld soil analyzer, handheld lithium battery analyzer, precious metal analyzer, coating analyzer, gold analyzer and online XRF analyzer etc. to global customers. We keep serving global customers in the fields of machinery manufacturing, metal processing, aerospace, petrochemical, mining and geology, food safety, environmental protection, scientific research and etc. AXR Scientific keeps improving product performance and user experience with R&D advantages and innovative designs, and continues to provide global users with reliable X-ray measure solutions to solve various challenges from routine testing tasks to complex customized measure requirements. To contact us, please send email to market@axr-scientific.com