Metal Stream Sorting
Eddy-Current + XRF Metal Sorter
The eddy-current and X-ray fluorescence metal sorter is a 25-kilogram waste-processing unit designed to segregate ferrous, aluminum, copper, and exotic-alloy scrap for targeted recycling. Operating at 200 watts, the device combines an eddy-current coil with X-ray fluorescence spectrometry to identify alloy compositions with 95 percent accuracy at a throughput of 20 kilograms per hour. Pneumatic diverters route feedstock into dedicated bins, preventing melt cross-contamination across dominant aluminum and stainless steel waste streams as well as niche titanium and copper stocks, while feeding compositional data directly into downstream furnace systems to automate melt charge recipes.
Eddy-current and XRF-based sorter separating ferrous, aluminum, copper, and exotic-alloy waste streams for targeted recycling.
Purpose
Eddy-current and XRF-based sorter separating ferrous, aluminum, copper, and exotic-alloy waste streams for targeted recycling.
Context
Child of L2-WMS-METAL within the Lunar Ark system
Principles
- ▸Eddy current separator distinguishes magnetic from non-magnetic
- ▸XRF (X-ray fluorescence) identifies alloy composition
- ▸Multi-channel diverter routes to per-alloy bins
- ▸Composition data fed back to L3-WMS-METAL-MELT for charge recipe
- ▸Hot tailings from L3-ISR-VOL-HEAT also processed here
Typical implementations
- ▸Industrial scrap metal sorting (Eriez, Steinert)
- ▸Recycling plant XRF sorters
- ▸Spacecraft alloy management heritage
Lunar considerations
- ▸XRF-confirmed composition avoids cross-contamination in melt
- ▸Robotic-mate input from L3-WMS-SORT-BIN
- ▸Aluminum and stainless dominate Ark waste; titanium/copper niche
Specifications
Functional
| primary function | Eddy-current and XRF-based sorter separating ferrous, aluminum, copper, and exotic-alloy waste streams for targeted recycling. |
| throughput kg per hour | 20 |
| alloy accuracy percent | 95 |
Physical
| mass kg | 25 |
| materials | Eddy-current coil, XRF detector, Pneumatic diverters |
| vacuum compatibility | True |
Operational
| power consumption w | 200 |
| thermal range c | -40, 70 |
| lifetime years | 20 |
| mtbf hours | 60000 |
Interfaces
Provides
- Per-alloy metal streams
Requires
- Metals bin input
- Sorter power (~200 W)
Cite this entry
Lunar Ark Codex. "Metal Stream Sorting" (L3-WMS-METAL-SORT). Retrieved 10 September 2026, from https://lunarark.com/entry/L3-WMS-METAL-SORT
Licensed CC-BY-SA 4.0. You may reuse and adapt this entry with attribution, under the same licence.