A Fully Automated 3D Microstructure Characterization System

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute of Sustainable Materials have set up a fully automated system that can conduct the 3D microstructure characterization with no human intervention. The scientists can analyze 40 slices per day as the system works 24 hours without pause. Over a weekend they may collect up to 30 million data points. The automated system enables the team of Dr. Stefan Zaefferer to focus on the interpretation of the data instead of spending time and effort on the polishing and microscopy process. The team built the system by combining commercially available devices with devices made at the mechanical and electronic workshops of the institute. Courtesy of Max Planck Institute of Sustainable Materials, as part of their “Short stories from the lab” video series.