Quick Release Magnetic Eccentric Platen Assembly (MEP)

For locating and dimpling off-center dimple sites.

Magnetic Eccentric Platen

An optional magnetic eccentric platen is available for locating and dimpling off-center dimple sites. The MEP assembly consists of the platen tower, with a quick release mechanism holding the sapphire flat; the sapphire flat, the magnetic base, and the centering stand. The platen allows for the rapid adjustment of the specimen for centering the area of interest during dimpling.

The centering stand, because of its standard 1" x 3" laboratory slide footprint, can be placed on an existing optical microscope X-Y table to allow positioning the desired dimple site under the microscope cross hairs. It has a hex shaped shaft extending from the slide to allow for the mounting of the platens onto the stand. Two different magnetic base sizes are used depending upon the tools being implemented. The procedure for using the platen is described below.

Schematic illustration of the quick release magnetic eccentric platen.
The platen consists of the magnetic base, the platen tower, and the sapphire flat.

1. Mount the specimen onto the sapphire flat.
2. Place the magnetic base onto the centering stand.
3. Place the platen tower onto the magnetic base and roughly center by eye.
4. Pull back on the quick release lever and slide the sapphire flat onto the platen tower. Make sure that the sapphire flat slides up against the support pins.
5. Allow the quick release to clamp the sapphire flat into place.
6. Center the entire assembly under the microscope.

Quick Release Platen

The quick release platen is almost identical to the magnetic eccentric platen. The quick release platen is fixed and therefore does not allow any adjustment of the specimen for off-center dimpling procedures.

The quick release platen consists of a platen tower, with a quick release mechanism holding the sapphire flat; the sapphire flat, and the base. The platen allows for the rapid removal of the sapphire flat for inspection during the dimpling process. Two different base sizes are used depending upon the tools being implemented. The procedure for using the platen is described below.

Schematic illustration of the quick release platen.
The platen consists of the hex mounting base, the platen tower, and the sapphire flat.

1. Mount the specimen onto the sapphire flat.
2. Pull back on the quick release lever and slide the sapphire flat onto the platen tower.
Make sure that the sapphire flat slides up against the support pins.
3. Allow the quick release to clamp the sapphire flat into place.
4. Place onto the Model D 500i.

Off-Center Dimpling

1) Centering Stand is placed beneath a standard laboratory microscope
2) Centering stand is positioned such that the cross hairs in the microscope are positioned at the center of the centrally located hexagonal post. This post is the same as is found on the Dimpler stage.
3) Sample is mounted to sapphire flat using QuickStick 135 wax.
4) Sapphire Flat is placed onto magnetic base and secured with slurry retaining ring.
5) Entire assembly is placed onto centering stand without moving the centering stand from its calibrated position.
6) Area of interest is located at intersection of cross hairs.
7) Entire assembly is removed from centering stand and placed onto DIMPLER.
8) Area of interested is now located at center of rotation of the dimpler base.

Similar procedure is also used for the new Quick Release Magnetic Eccentric Platen

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