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Traceability is becoming a bigger issue for shops, especially those serving the aerospace and medical industries. Handheld X-ray fluorescence (XRF) spectrometers are commonly used to identify, analyze and tests a broad range of metal alloys for positive materials identification (PMI). Such analysis is commonly performed on raw material as well as finished parts prior to customer delivery to confirm alloy grade. That said, the price point for these devices hasn’t been all that attractive.

says it is the first company to offer an XRF analyzer for less than $10,000. Its Watson XRF device uses a process similar to static electricity (known as the triboelectric effect) to generate X-rays. The company says conventional XRF devices use technology originally developed in the 1800s that relies on bulky, expensive high-voltage transformers to generate X-rays. Tribogenics-effect technology is said to lower both the cost and size for an XRF device using a small (less than 250cc) battery-operated source. Watson also uses replaceable, interchangeable X-ray sources that function much like inkjet cartridges. These cartridges are available in different power levels to address different analyzing needs. They are said to last one to two months and cost $300 to $400.