ACQ
Detector data handling
Real-time capture of line-scan detector data at high belt speeds, with detector calibration (offset/gain) in both on-board and off-board modes.
Service 02
X-ray transmission sorting (XRT)
XRT (X-ray transmission) is an automated sorting technique in which X-rays scan every item travelling along the conveyor while the software identifies the material in real time and fires a command to the actuator (usually pneumatic air-jet valves). Unlike security screening, no operator views the image — the algorithm makes the call on its own.
Overview
Material identified on the belt, sorted on its own.
XRayDetect builds software and algorithms for XRT sorting — covering everything from reading detector data to assembling the ejection command map. The foundation is the same multi-energy (dual energy) material discrimination used in our security-screening software, but adapted here for automatic, high-speed classification.
Optical sorters only read the surface — colour and shape. X-rays pass straight through the object and measure its density and effective atomic number (Zeff) throughout the entire volume, so materials can be told apart regardless of contamination, moisture or surface colour. Dual energy reinforces this: measuring across multiple energy bands splits light elements (organics) from heavy ones (metals, dense minerals) even when object thicknesses vary.
Capabilities
What our sorting software does.
A real-time pipeline that runs operator-free — from reading the line-scan detector to firing the pneumatic valves, every stage tunable for your material and task.
SEG
Segmentation
Picking out individual objects from a continuous flow on the belt, so each item can be classified and tracked separately.
CLS
Real-time material classification
Classification by density and Zeff (dual energy), resilient to varying object thicknesses — the algorithm makes the call with no operator in the loop.
RULE
Rule-based decisions
Configurable sorting rules for a given material and task — thresholds, classes and fraction priorities decide which objects to eject.
EJEC
Ejection control
Building the "shot" map for the pneumatic-valve array, factoring in conveyor speed, geometry and valve actuation delays, with each command tied to the object's tracked position.
INT
Controller integration
Integration with the controller for actuator management and safety, plus sorting statistics, fraction counters and logs.
Why X-ray (XRT) rather than optics
Optical sorters only read the surface — colour and shape. X-rays pass straight through the object and measure its density and effective atomic number (Zeff) throughout the entire volume. That capability lets you:
- tell materials apart no matter the contamination, moisture or surface color;
- "see" internal inclusions and hidden foreign objects;
- separate items that look alike but differ in density or composition;
- handle a stream of mixed, heterogeneous material.
Dual energy reinforces the approach: measuring across multiple energy bands lets you split light elements (organics) from heavy ones (metals, dense minerals) even when object thicknesses vary.
Where it applies
♻️ Sorting waste and recyclables
- Isolating the target fraction by material type and spotting foreign inclusions.
- Raising the purity and value of recyclables (plastic, wood, metal, inert).
- Stripping unwanted impurities from the stream ahead of further processing.
- RDF/SRF fuel control: removing heavy and chlorine-bearing fractions.
⛏️ Sorting ore and minerals
- Pre-concentration — separating ore from waste rock by density before crushing and beneficiation.
- Cutting grinding and processing costs by discarding waste rock.
- Lump-ore sorting on the conveyor or in the stream.
- Suitable for many ore types wherever a density or composition contrast exists.
🔩 Sorting scrap and metals
- Sorting by substance type: metal / non-metal, light / heavy fractions.
- Cleaning contaminants from scrap and recovering valuable components.
🏭 Industrial inspection and rejection
- Finding foreign objects in product and raw-material streams.
- Rejecting out-of-spec items on production lines.
What we build
XRT sorting software is a real-time pipeline that runs "operator-free":
- Line-scan detector
- data acquisition
- calibrationoffset · gain
- segmentationobjects on the belt
- material classificationdual energy
- sorting rules
- command map
- pneumatic valvesvia the controller
Processing and classification
- Real-time capture of line-scan detector data at high belt speeds.
- Detector calibration (offset/gain), in both on-board and off-board modes.
- Segmentation — picking out individual objects from a continuous flow.
- Material classification by density and Zeff (dual energy), resilient to varying object thicknesses.
- Configurable sorting rules for a given material and task (thresholds, classes, fraction priorities).
Ejection control
- Constructing the "shot" map for the pneumatic-valve array.
- Factoring in conveyor speed, geometry and valve actuation delays.
- Tightly tying each command to the object's position (tracking along the belt).
- Integration with the controller for actuator management and safety.
Performance and operation
- Real-time operation with deterministic processing latency.
- Sorting statistics, fraction counters and logs.
- Calibration and tuning for a new material without rewriting the software.
- Cross-platform: Windows / Linux.
How it all comes together as a system
An XRT separator brings together every one of our competencies:
- Detector integration — reliable data acquisition and synchronization across industrial line-scan detectors.
- Image processing (dual energy) — separating and classifying materials.
- Controller — X-ray generator, conveyor, ejection valves, interlocks and safety.
We can develop the sorting algorithm and software for your separator, or contribute to building the complete installation.
Ways to engage
- Classification algorithm — material-discrimination software tailored to your material and detector.
- Full sorting software — from data acquisition through to valve control.
- Integration into an existing separator — replacing or upgrading the classification software.
- Pilot and feasibility study — confirming material contrast on test samples before full-scale development.
What you get
A sorting pipeline tuned to your stream — and yours to keep.
Source & documentation
Full source code, documentation and the rights to use and modify it — no lock-in to the contractor.
Tuned to your material stream
Classification, sorting rules and calibration set up for your material, detector and the fractions you need to separate.
Production-ready real-time
Operator-free, deterministic-latency processing that holds up at belt speed and drives the ejection valves through the controller.
Where it is used
Across waste, ore, scrap and inspection.
- Waste & recyclables sorting
- RDF/SRF fuel control
- Ore & mineral pre-concentration
- Lump-ore sorting
- Scrap & metals separation
- Industrial inspection & rejection
Related services
Works together with.
- Dual-energy image processing — the same material discrimination, here automated for sorting.
- Detector integration — reliable data acquisition from line-scan detectors.
- X-ray system controllers — generator, conveyor and ejection valves, synchronized with sorting.
- Automatic detection & AI — automatic detection of foreign bodies and defects.
Contact
Let's discuss your sorting task
Tell us which material you need to separate and on what equipment — we'll evaluate whether X-rays (XRT) fit and propose a processing pipeline and a work plan. Where you can, prepare a description of the fractions and some test samples. Reach us at info@xraydetect.com.