Abstract: A handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer includes a pyroelectric radiation source for directing X-rays toward a sample to be analyzed and a detector for receiving secondary X-rays emitted from the sample and converting the secondary X-rays into one or more electrical signals representative of the received secondary X-rays. A module is configured to receive the one or more electrical signals and send a representation of the one or more signals over a communication channel to a computing device without performing any spectral analysis on the one or more electrical signals to characterize the sample. The computing device is configured to perform spectral analysis on the one or more electrical signals and send the spectral analysis to the spectrometer over the communications channel.

Abstract: A handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer includes a pyroelectric radiation source for directing X-rays toward a sample to be analyzed and a detector for receiving secondary X-rays emitted from the sample and converting the secondary X-rays into one or more electrical signals representative of the received secondary X-rays. A module is configured to receive the one or more electrical signals and send a representation of the one or more signals over a communication channel to a computing device without performing any spectral analysis on the one or more electrical signals to characterize the sample. The computing device is configured to perform spectral analysis on the one or more electrical signals and send the spectral analysis to the spectrometer over the communications channel.

Abstract: A handheld X-ray fluorescence spectrometer includes a pyroelectric radiation source for directing X-rays toward a sample to be analyzed and a detector for receiving secondary X-rays emitted from the sample and converting the secondary X-rays into one or more electrical signals representative of the received secondary X-rays. A module is configured to receive the one or more electrical signals and send a representation of the one or more signals over a communication channel to a computing device without performing any spectral analysis on the one or more electrical signals to characterize the sample. The computing device is configured to perform spectral analysis on the one or more electrical signals and send the spectral analysis to the spectrometer over the communications channel.

Abstract: A clamping apparatus includes a clamp arm that is pivotable between a raised position and a lowered position, and a clamp spindle assembly that is adjustably positionable along the length of the arm. A magnet in the clamp spindle assembly magnetically engages the clamp arm with sufficient magnetic force to maintain the spindle assembly in a selected position as the clamp arm is moved between its raised and lowered positions, while allowing the position of the clamp spindle assembly to be manually adjusted.