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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jul 20, 2025

Plasma Polishing as a New Polishing Option to Reduce the Surface Roughness of Porous Titanium Alloy for 3D Printing

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Published on: April 28, 2023

A precision dimple grinder-polisher produced by 3D printing.

Lawrence Whitmore¹

¹Department of Chemistry and Physics of Materials, Paris Lodron University of Salzburg (PLUS), Jakob-Haringer Strasse 2a, Salzburg 5020, Austria.

Ultramicroscopy

|August 4, 2023

Summary

A novel 3D-printed grinder-polisher creates thin sample areas for transmission electron microscopy. This cost-effective, sustainable device aids scientific research and teaching labs.

Keywords:

3d printing Dimple grinding Sample preparation Sustainable development Transmission electron microscopy

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Last Updated: Jul 20, 2025

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Published on: January 30, 2020

Area of Science:

Materials Science
Engineering
Microscopy

Background:

Preparing samples for transmission electron microscopy (TEM) often requires specialized equipment.
Achieving thin central areas in 3 mm round samples is crucial for subsequent ion milling to electron transparency.
Laboratories need accessible and cost-effective solutions for sample preparation.

Purpose of the Study:

To design and construct a precision grinder-polisher using 3D printing technology.
To enable laboratories to self-fabricate a device for preparing TEM samples.
To promote sustainable development goals in labs through recycling and biodegradable materials.

Main Methods:

A 3D-printed precision dimple grinder-polisher was designed and constructed.
Novel sample holder for alignment without a monocular and thickness detection via light transmission was developed.
Solutions for aligning motors and fixing polishing cloths were implemented.
Investigation of diameter-depth relationships for steel and plastic grinding discs was performed.
Samples of copper, silicon, and tungsten were prepared and examined using TEM.

Main Results:

The 3D-printed grinder-polisher successfully produces thin central areas in 3 mm round samples.
The novel sample holder design simplifies alignment and thickness detection.
The device is adaptable for various materials, including copper, silicon, and tungsten.
Evaluation in TEM confirmed the quality of the prepared samples.

Conclusions:

A cost-effective, self-buildable 3D-printed grinder-polisher is presented for TEM sample preparation.
The device offers a sustainable solution for research and teaching laboratories.
The design incorporates novel features for improved sample handling and alignment.