Buehler, an ITW Company, Lake Bluff, Ill., introduces the PlanarMet 300, a new compact benchtop planar grinder built for fast and efficient grinding with high flatness and maximum edge retention. It features a fixed 305 mm (12 in.) grinding stone in conjunction with a high-performance 5.7 hp motor, and can accommodate ten specimens at time. It is easy to use with a self-calibrating auto-dressing system and easy stone change.
The PlanarMet 300 is designed to remove up to 0.6 mm of material per minute – up to ten times faster than grinding with SiC paper. The central-force specimen holder accommodates up to ten samples at a time and enables three to four grinding stages to be combined into a single step. The amount of material to be removed can be programmed accurately in increments of 0.1 mm.
For highly accurate material removal, the grinder offers either a timed-cycle or a controlled material depth mode, with adjustable powerhead speed and direction of rotation. Sample deformation is kept to a minimum by an integral cooling water inlet, combined with a unique water manifold, which ensures adequate cooling even under extremely aggressive grinding conditions.
The self-calibrating auto-dressing system with adjustable dressing frequency and depth provides a clean, flat grinding surface for each grinding cycle. Grinding stones (optionally Al2O3 or SiC) can be changed easily within minutes by unscrewing the center bolt, following which the system will auto-calibrate.
The grinder is designed for side-by-side use with EcoMet/AutoMet Grinder Polisher for direct specimen holder integration. It uses the same central force specimen holders as the EcoMet/AutoMet, and allows the user to complete additional preparation steps after planar grinding directly on the polishing system, without transferring to a new holder.
