Automatic apparatus for grinding and polishing samples

摘要

An automatic sample preparation system for polishing and grinding metallurgical and other samples prior to microscopic examination of the samples, including a rack which holds a plurality of abrasive platens, and platen transfer mechanism for selecting one platen from the rack and transferring the same to a platen drive plate for a polishing operation and for later returning the platen to the rack and transferring another selected platen to the platen drive plate, and a polishing head which can be rotated between a polishing position for polishing samples and a wash position where it is over a wash and dry station, the platen transfer mechanism being operated when the polishing head is rotated to its wash position.