CUTTING SAMPLES WITH THE BUEHLER PETROTHIN: USER GUIDE

Introduction

This user guide will help thin section technicians cut off the main bulk of the sample on the Buehler PetroThin. This will prepare the sample for lapping on the Logitech LP50 to precision thickness. For more information on the Buehler PetroThin refer to The Operation and Maintenance Instructions PetroThin, Thin Section System manual, located in the black binder in the Thin Section Lab cabinet labeled "Equipment Manuals and Thin Section Prep".

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1. Use a flat razor blade to clean the extra resin off the slide around the sample (Fig.1).
   1. If there is too much excess resin on the slide it will cause the slide to bow under vacuum on the PetroThin chuck face (Fig. 3). This will cause a bad seal or will crack the slide.

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                                  Figure 1

1. Use the diamond tipped pen to etch the sample number and orientation arrow if applies, onto the bottom right corner of the slide (Fig.2).

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Figure 2

1. Flip the slide over and clean off any excess resin the back side of the slide with the flat razor. Then, wipe the slide and PetroThin chuck face clean with a kimwipe and isopropyl alcohol.

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1. Set the cutting wheel micrometer to three increments and to 25 (Fig. 3 and 5).

Figure 5

1. Turn on the PetroThin wheels by pushing the Motor button on the front (Fig. 3).
2. Turn on the water by turning the Water dial counter clockwise (Fig. 3). Don't need too much water. Just enough to keep the sample wet.
   1. If the sample is water soluble do not turn on the water. While cutting, spray isopropyl alcohol on the wheel.
3. Put on hearing and eye protection.
4. If the PetroThin has not been used for a while it is a good idea to sharpen the blades.
   1. There are sharpening blocks in the drawer under the PetroThin.
   2. Hold the block firmly and slowly run it against the cutting wheel and cup wheel.
5. Push the chuck face all the way to the left and lower it down slowly (Fig. 6).

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1. Keep the water, motor, and safety equipment on.
2. Set the cup wheel digital micrometer to -0.600mm. (Fig. 3 and 7).

Figure 7

1. Lower the chuck face down slowly so the whole sample has passed the cup wheel and bring back up slowly. Repeat a couple of times.
2. Set the digital micrometer by turning knob toward yourself to -0.500 and repeat step 3.
   1. Then to -0.400mm, -0.350mm, -0.300mm, -0.275mm, -0.250mm, -0.240mm, -0.230mm, -0.225mm, -0.220mm, -0.215mm, -0.210mm, -0.205mm, -0.202mm, -0.200mm.
      1. When cutting off less of the sample it is ok to speed up.
      2. If the sample is too soft to lap down on the LP 50 it can be cut down on the cup wheel too. Take the sample down in increments to -0.069 slowly. After that it can go straight to the Logitech PM5 polisher.
3. Always set the digital micrometer back to -0.600, as a safety measure.
4. Open the Logitech VS2 vacuum valve (Fig. 5) and remove the slide from the chuck face.
5. Turn off the water, motor, and vacuum
6. Clean the, sample, slide, and chuck face with a kimwipe and isopropyl alcohol.
7. Open the door on the right side of the PetroThin and remove the cut off billet (Fig. 3).
   1. Place the billet back into the sample bag.