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Conation Technologies

Product Category

Sample Preparation Equipment

Reliable metallographic evaluation begins with proper specimen preparation. Cutting, mounting, grinding and polishing preserve the true microstructure required for accurate microscopic analysis.

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Recommended source size

1600 × 900 px

Why Preparation Quality Matters

Preparation quality determines whether the surface under the microscope represents the material or damage introduced in the laboratory.

Cutting

Prevent thermal and mechanical damage before the specimen reaches microscopic examination.

Mounting

Protect specimen edges and fragile structures while making the sample easier to handle.

Grinding

Remove sectioning damage in controlled stages while maintaining specimen flatness.

Polishing

Produce a deformation-free surface that reveals the true microstructure after etching.

From Raw Sample to Reliable Microstructure

Every preparation stage influences how accurately and reliably the final microstructure can be examined.

  1. 01

    Raw Sample

  2. 02

    Cutting

    Expose the area of interest

  3. 03

    Coarse Grinding

    Remove sectioning damage

  4. 04

    Mounting

    Support edges and handling

  5. 05

    Grinding & Polishing

    Create a flat, scratch-free surface

  6. 06

    Etching

    Reveal the microstructure

  7. 07

    Microscopy & Analysis

    Examine, measure and document

  8. 08

    Reliable Microstructure

Models & Variants

Choose the equipment family and variant that suit your material, preparation stage and required level of control.

ManualAutomated

Abrasive Cutting Machines

For sectioning metallic and engineering samples before metallographic preparation.

Precision Diamond Saws

Precision Diamond Saws

For controlled cutting of delicate, small or critical samples where deformation control is important.

Specimen Mounting Presses

Mounting Presses

For preparing samples in suitable mounts for easier handling during grinding and polishing.

Coarse Grinding Machines

Coarse Grinding Machines

Belt grinder and spectro grinding machines for initial grinding, sample leveling, burr removal, oxide removal and spectrometer sample preparation.

Grinding & Polishing Machines

Grinder Polishers

For grinding and polishing metallographic specimens before microscopic examination.

Applications

The material, feature to be preserved and examination method determine the preparation route.

Steel Metallography

Reveal grain structure, phases, inclusions and treatment effects without preparation artefacts.

Cast Iron Analysis

Preserve graphite form and the surrounding matrix during sectioning, grinding and polishing.

Failure Analysis

Trace cracks, deformation and material changes while protecting evidence at the failure origin.

Research Laboratories

Adapt preparation routes for new materials, experimental samples and varied examination objectives.

Heat Treatment Evaluation

Preserve case depth, phase boundaries and surface layers for meaningful microstructural review.

Weld Analysis

Prepare representative weld cross-sections for fusion, penetration, defect and microstructure assessment.

Selecting the Right Sample Preparation Equipment

Choose equipment for the specimens, surface quality and throughput your laboratory needs now, while allowing room for future work.

Part A

Choose Equipment Based on Your Requirement

Sample Size

Section dimensions and geometry determine cutting capacity, mounting size and handling needs.

Type of Material

Hard, soft and composite materials need different cutting wheels, abrasives and preparation loads.

Throughput

Daily specimen volume helps determine machine capacity and whether automatic preparation is justified.

Required Precision

Coatings, case layers and surface defects require mounting and polishing methods that protect the edge.

Budget

The examination method determines how much deformation and relief can remain on the prepared surface.

Automation Requirement

Automation improves consistency when preparation volumes, repeatability needs or operator workload increase.

Part B

Engineering Considerations

Production vs Laboratory Use

Production control prioritises repeatability and speed, while laboratory work may need greater method flexibility.

Manual vs Semi-Automatic vs Automatic

Choose the operating level around specimen volume, operator involvement and consistency requirements.

Future Expansion

Allow for new materials, higher specimen volumes and additional preparation or analysis equipment.

Available Laboratory Space

Machine footprint, operator access, utilities and material movement must fit the available laboratory area.

Integration with Existing Workflow

New equipment should connect cleanly with current cutting, mounting, preparation and examination stages.

Compliance with ASTM / ISO Requirements

The preparation route should preserve representative microstructure for the applicable examination method.

Common Preparation Challenges

Preparation artefacts can look like real material features, so each stage must protect the surface you intend to examine.

Thermal Damage

Effect on analysis

Heat can alter the microstructure close to the cut surface.

Prevention

Suitable wheels, coolant and controlled feed reduce overheating.

Plastic Deformation

Effect on analysis

Deformed surface layers can hide or distort the true structure.

Prevention

Progressive material removal eliminates damage from the previous stage.

Edge Rounding

Effect on analysis

Coatings and surface layers become difficult to measure accurately.

Prevention

Correct mounting support and polishing control preserve the edge.

Smearing

Effect on analysis

Soft material can spread across pores, phases or fine features.

Prevention

Appropriate abrasives, pressure and lubrication keep features open.

Pull-outs

Effect on analysis

Particles or phases may be removed and mistaken for real porosity.

Prevention

Good mounting impregnation and gentle polishing retain weak features.

Cross-contamination

Effect on analysis

Foreign abrasive or material can create misleading surface indications.

Prevention

Clean equipment and dedicated consumables between stages prevent transfer.

Why Conation

We bring equipment, consumables and operator practice together around the microstructure your laboratory needs to preserve.

Engineering Guidance

Preparation decisions begin with the material, specimen geometry and examination objective.

Application-specific Equipment Selection

Equipment capacity and operation are matched to the sample range, throughput and required finish.

Integrated Equipment & Consumables

Machines, cutting wheels, resins, abrasives and polishing media are considered as one process.

Manual and Automatic Solutions

Laboratories can balance operator control, preparation consistency and daily throughput.

Laboratory Planning & Implementation

Equipment layout, utilities and specimen movement are planned around the complete preparation route.

Training & Process Optimisation

Operator training helps reduce artefacts and refine preparation steps for recurring materials.

Recommended Metallography Consumables

Material and equipment determine the consumables needed to limit heat, deformation, relief and contamination at each stage.

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Recommended source size

600 × 500 px

Cutting Consumables

Choose a wheel suited to the material and section size to control heat, deformation and cutting time.

mounting-resins.jpg

Recommended source size

600 × 500 px

Mounting Resins

The right resin protects edges, fills cavities and holds small or irregular specimens securely.

grinding-consumables.jpg

Recommended source size

600 × 500 px

Grinding Consumables

A controlled abrasive sequence removes cutting damage without introducing unnecessary new deformation.

polishing-consumables.jpg

Recommended source size

600 × 500 px

Polishing Consumables

Cloths, abrasives and suspensions are selected to achieve the required finish without relief or smearing.

Related Solutions

Sample preparation connects naturally with microscopy, image analysis, weld evaluation and hardness-related workflows.

Weld Quality Analysis

Weld sections require preparation before measurement and image analysis.

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Metallography Consumables

Cutting, mounting, grinding and polishing consumables for complete sample preparation workflows.

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DeXel-Metallography®

Prepared sample quality influences metallography image analysis outcomes.

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Microhardness Testers

Prepared surfaces can support hardness evaluation where required.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Need help selecting the right sample preparation equipment?

Share the material, specimen dimensions, daily volume and examination requirement. Conation will define the preparation route and equipment.

Discuss Your Application