United States of America As Represented by the Secretary of the Air Force

Herbert M Mullens

Jonathan E Spowart

A high speed, high precision, high repeatability serial sectioning device and method for 3-D reconstruction of microstructure specimens. The invention employs a high-precision motorized metallographic polishing unit, a microscope for viewing and computer controlled digital imaging of 2-D microstructure sections of a pre-selected pattern for 3-D microstructure reconstruction. The microstructure specimens are transferred throughout by a robotic manipulator arm providing greater precision and speed and serial-sectioning process control software provides control. The 3-D reconstruction of the invention can be analyzed in real time and can be accomplished in a matter of hours.

High speed and repeatability serial sectioning device for 3-D reconstruction of microstructures

A high speed, high precision, high repeatability serial sectioning method for 3-D reconstruction of microstructure specimen is disclosed. The invention employs high-precision motorized metallographic polishing, viewing and computer controlled digital imaging of microstructure sections of a pre-selected pattern for 3-D microstructure reconstruction. The microstructure specimens are transferred throughout by a robotic manipulator arm, which provides greater precision and speed and serial-sectioning process control software provides control. The 3-D reconstruction of the invention can be analyzed in real time and can be accomplished in a matter of hours.

High speed and repeatability serial sectioning method for 3-D reconstruction of microstructures using optical microscopy

A high speed, high precision, high repeatability serial sectioning method for 3-D reconstruction of microstructure specimens is disclosed. The invention employs high-precision motorized metallographic polishing, viewing and computer controlled digital imaging of microstructure sections of a pre-selected pattern for 3-D microstructure reconstruction. The microstructure specimens are transferred throughout by a robotic manipulator arm, which provides greater precision and speed, and serial-sectioning process control software provides control. The 3-D reconstruction of the invention can be analyzed in real time and can be accomplished in a matter of hours.

High speed and repeatability serial sectioning method for 3-D reconstruction of microstructures using scanning electron microscope

A high speed, high precision, high repeatability serial sectioning method for 3-D reconstruction of microstructure specimens is disclosed. The invention employs high-precision motorized metallographic polishing, viewing and computer controlled digital imaging of microstructure sections of a pre-selected pattern for 3-D microstructure reconstruction. The microstructure specimens are transferred throughout by a robotic manipulator arm providing greater precision and speed and serial-sectioning process control software provides control. The 3-D reconstruction of the invention can be analyzed in real time and can be accomplished in a matter of hours.

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Huber Heights, OH, United States of America

Herbert M Mullens