Metallography by METKON | Cutting machines & more
HQ Metallography Sections: Separating | Embedding | Grinding | Polishing
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Metallographic sample preparation by METKON
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Professional separation of metal samples
Allowing a view into the interior
In order to obtain a sample from a material or component that can be used for metallography, the material must first be cut. Since the effect of heat would distort the material characteristics (structure and hardness), thermal processing methods (burning or plasma cutting) are generally ruled out. Machining methods are also considered unsuitable: a saw cut creates a rough edge that has to be laboriously ground down / milling creates material compaction (work hardening). The non plus ultra is therefore the abrasive separation of the test object using cutting machine with the addition of plenty of cooling water. A distinction is made between cross-cut, driving cut or precision cut.
The wet cutting and grinding machines METACUT and SERCVOCUT allow samples to be cut simply and efficiently. The complete encapsulation of the work area means that this is completely safe for the operator. The SERVOCUT and MICRACUT cutting machines also allow the cut to be carried out automatically.
Metallographic mounting with METKON mounting presses
Depending on the size of the sample, the degree of automation of the subsequent processing steps and the desired quality of the grinding (flatness/edge sharpness), the sample should be embedded. The sample body is cast in a carrier material - either in order to grind and polish a segment that is not too small during manual preparation or to give the test piece a round (angular) shape in order to produce a sample holder in the grinding machine.
Investment materials made from Plastic, which securely encloses the test specimen using a cold or hot embedding process. The result is an embedded sample with defined dimensions and properties (transparent embedding), which significantly contributes to increasing efficiency, especially in automated preparation steps. With the ECOPRESS embedding press, the VACUMET embedding device (bubble-free embedding of porous materials) and a pressure pot (avoiding outgassing of the cold investment materials), METKON offers the appropriate equipment for this step in metallography.
Grinding and polishing machines for optimal sample results
Even if a METKON wet cutting machine provides a seemingly perfect and reflective cross-section – under the microscope / the hardness tester-Objectively, the test specimen surfaces are still rough and uneven after cutting. In order to be able to evaluate the true properties, they must be ground and polished. Only when they are polished to a high gloss can a qualified statement be made about grain sizes, grain boundaries, microstructure proportions, inclusions, Vickers hardness, and weld seam zones. For this task in metallography, METKON offers grinding and polishing machines with different expansion levels for manual preparation and automated preparation using individual pressure or a central pressure system: With the basic device of the FORCIPOL grinding and polishing machine series, the material samples can be ground manually (manual preparation without sample mover). This inexpensive solution is suitable for a small number of samples and is used for samples that cannot be embedded due to their size.
If there is a higher volume of samples or increased requirements for the quality of the cut (flatness / edge sharpness), an extension (also subsequent) with the FORCIMAT sample mover is recommended. This inexpensive solution increases the efficiency of sample production many times over and ensures reproducible samples even for a beginner in metallography.
This task can be carried out even more efficiently with the programmable DIGIPREP grinding and polishing machine. With a memory for 25 different programs for preparing a wide variety of samples (steel, aluminum, titanium), the DIGIPREP makes a decisive contribution to the efficient utilization of employees. The key words for this machine are efficient work with high throughput and error-free preparation of a wide variety of materials with different (stored) preparation methods.
If a high level of material removal is required for the test specimens (weld seams, large-volume samples), the DIGIPREP PLAN surface grinding machine can offer decisive advantages: high removal volume in the shortest possible time, perfect flatness between the sample surface and underside (important for hardness gradients), direct re-clamping of the sample holder from this surface grinding machine to the DIGIPREP grinding and polishing machine (one sample holder for both machines).
The ACCURA grinding and polishing machine is one of the highest quality grinding and polishing machines. The additional sample mover, which can be moved along the X-axis, ensures homogeneous use of the abrasive and thus even better flatness than the DIGIPREPP type. In addition, this grinding and polishing machine is one of the few machines that is also designed for target preparation.
