Sample Preparation Spinner System

Sample Preparation Spinner System

the price. Moreover, the Sample Preparation Spinner System does not use a vacuum, thus saving the user the cost and upkeep of a vacuum pump.

Cost Effectiveness The Sample Preparation Spinner System is an economical way to prepare samples because the mechanical spinner assembly can be attached to any D.C. or A.C. motor. It is cost efficient because the spinner system does not require a vacuum pump and an accompanying vacuum-seal motor. The entire Sample Preparation Spinner System (including motor) can be produced for less than $500. Comparable systems (without the vacuum pump) usually cost in the range of $3000 to $4000.

Comparable Systems Comparable spinner systems are expensive mainly due to the cost of the motor. The motors are of a special design so as to prevent corrosion of internal parts by the corrosive materials sometimes used in sample Cross section showing lluid protective devices buill into preparation. The cost is prohibitive because motor housing the motors are specialized vacuum-seal motors . In a typical design, the vacuum pump is attached to one end of the motor, while the vacuum chuck is attached to the freely rotating shaft at the other end of the motor.

AC motor cross section During sample preparation, materials used in the preparation of the sample are drawn into the hollow shaft of the motor.

The special design of the motors prevents those materials to come into contact with the vunerable components of the motor. The cost of the development and production of United States . Patent No. 3,965,381 (Asthe specialized motors is clearly reflected in signee: Headway Research, Inc.)

The Design

attached to the grips of the assembly. These specialized grips may be manufactured to The Sample Preparation Spinner the clients specifications. A typical grip is System consists of a mechanical chuck shown below: which is coupled to a motor shaft. The assembly consists of two spring-loaded grips which maintain the sample's secure position on the mechanical chuck. The spring-loaded device also insures that the sample is well centered on the mechanical chuck during operation.

Arch for Point Loading

The design is illustrated below:

Threaded hole for attachable grip

Mechanical Chuck Top View

Chamfer Groove for Guide Rail

Results using the Sample Preparation Spinner System End

End

Shaft

Specialized Grips

Those who have used the spinner system have remarked about the ability to produce samples which do not exhibit the usual excess fluids that are drawn to the underside of the sample by the vacuum system in a vacuum-based system. Furthermore, because of the absence of the vacuum, the sample coating thickness tends to be much more uniform, and is only dependent on the rotational speed and the viscosity of the preparation chemical.

In vacuum system prepared samples, the vacuum which maintains the samples position on the vacuum chuck also draws some of the preparation chemicals and solvents towards the sides of the samples, thus creating a very non-uniform coating of the sample.

The grips shown on the mechanical chuck in the illustration above are of a standard de- GOLD LABORATORIES, Salt Lake sign. Specialized grips may be produced and City, Utah 84112. @1993