Automated high speed metallographic system

An automated metallographic system for cutting, mounting and analyzing a specimen, the system comprising an outer housing, a loading station, an automated transport assembly, a preparation station, a mounting station, a material removal station, an analyzer, a user input interface, and a controller;

• wherein the preparation station and the mounting station are housed within the outer housing;
• wherein the loading station comprises an input opening through the outer housing configured to receive an un-mounted specimen;
• wherein the preparation station comprises a cutting device configured to cut the un-mounted specimen to provide a cut surface for analysis;
• wherein the automated transport assembly is configured to transport the un-mounted specimen from the preparation station to the mounting station;
• wherein the mounting station comprises a resin reservoir and a resin dispenser, the mounting station configured to mount the specimen in resin with the cut surface of the specimen in a predetermined orientation;
• wherein the material removal station is configured to remove material from the cut surface of the mounted specimen;
• wherein the analyzer is configured to obtain an image of a surface of the mounted specimen;
• wherein the user input interface is configured to receive identification information associated with the un-mounted specimen;
• and
• wherein the controller is programmed to operate the cutting device, the automated transport assembly, and the resin dispenser.