Metallography Equipment – QATM | Matavimo technologijos

Metallography

Metallographic sample preparation is a sequential chain of processes whose quality determines whether microstructure analysis and hardness testing will give a reliable result. The steps: abrasive cutting (removing a sample from the part without thermal or deformation damage) → hot mounting in resin, so the sample is easy to hold and grind → grinding (planar and fine grinding with SiC paper or diamond discs) → polishing (diamond suspensions, oxide suspensions, vibratory polishing) → etching (chemical or electrolytic, to reveal the microstructure) → microscopy and hardness testing. QATM (Verder Scientific group, Germany) manufactures equipment and consumables for this entire chain – from benchtop laboratory instruments to fully automated robotic lines.
Intended for: materials science and quality laboratories, foundries, heat treatment and welding companies (macro sections of welds according to DIN EN ISO 5817), quality departments in the automotive and aerospace industries, universities and research institutes, electronics (PCB) and coating analysis.
How to choose:

Benchtop vs floor-standing equipment – depending on the maximum sample diameter (benchtop cut-off machines up to ~Ø135 mm, floor-standing up to Ø244 mm) and the cut-off wheel diameter.
Manual vs automatic – manual suits low sample volumes and training; automatic (with force control and program memory) ensures reproducibility and allows unattended operation.
Sample size and quantity – mounting mould diameter (Ø25–50 mm), sample holder capacity (e.g. 6×Ø40 mm or 6×Ø50 mm), one or two working wheels.
Material – hard materials and high loads require a more powerful drive and a pulse cutting mode.

In your enquiry please state: the materials to be examined (steel, Al, Cu, hard metals, ceramics, PCB), typical sample dimensions and number per day, the desired level of automation, the available power supply (1 or 3 phase), water/compressed air availability, and whether consumables are needed (cut-off wheels, resins, grinding paper, diamond suspensions).

Consumables

A high-quality metallographic section requires not only equipment but also the right consumables. QATM offers cut-off wheels, mounting resins, grinding and polishing products and etchants, as well as clamping tools. The consumables are tested in the QATM central laboratory and matched to the equipment methods. They can also be used with sample preparation equipment from other manufacturers. We will help you select consumables according to your sample material and preparation method.

Cut-off Machines

Cutting is the first step in metallographic sample preparation: an improperly cut sample overheats or deforms, and the test result is distorted. The QATM Qcut 150 A and 200 A are precision machines for small and sensitive samples (PCB, ceramics, hard metals). The Qcut 250, 350 and Brillant 230 are versatile abrasive cut-off machines for everyday laboratory work. The Qcut 600 BOT is a 5-axis cutting robot for series testing when several samples need to be taken from one part.

Electrolytic Polishing and Etching

Electrolytic polishing and etching are used for materials where mechanical polishing leaves a deformation layer – stainless steel, aluminium, titanium and others. This quickly produces a deformation-free surface and reveals the microstructure. For these tasks QATM offers the Qetch 100 M and Qetch 1000.

Grinding and Polishing Machines

Grinding and polishing determine whether the true microstructure will be visible, free of scratches and deformation. QATM offers the full range: manual Qpol M1 and M2, semi-automatic Qpol GO and PLUS, and Saphir with material removal measurement. Qpol XL and Qgrind XL are designed for high-throughput laboratories, and Qpol 250 / 300 BOT are fully automatic. Qpol Vibro is designed for final polishing without a deformation layer, and the mobile Qpol 30 for field metallography. The choice depends on the sample throughput and the required reproducibility.

Hot Mounting Presses

Before grinding and polishing, a metallographic sample is often embedded in resin. This makes it easier to hold, protects the edges and gives a uniform format for automated preparation. QATM Qpress 40 and Qpress 50 hot mounting presses embed samples quickly and reproducibly in phenolic, epoxy or acrylic resin. The models differ in size and throughput.

Software and Optical Analysis

Metallography software and optical analysis help evaluate macro sections quickly and document the results. The QATM Qeye 800 is designed for welding production and quality laboratories (steel structures, equipment manufacturing), and the Qeye 200 for laser welding and electronics analysis. Together with the Qpix Control2 software they form an integrated macro section evaluation system.