Rock cutting and polishing equipment | Keyworth

The core store has a number of fully equipped workshops for all types of cutting, grinding, plugging and polishing. Initial enquiries should be made to the Core Store Manager.

The diamond trim saw is used for the wet cutting of small samples, up to approximately 15 cm.

This freestanding saw is used for irregular pieces. It is lubricated and cooled with water.

The larger saws are fully enclosed to ensure safe working. If either door is opened the saw immediately cuts out. There are two cutting rooms, each containing a 600 mm saw One permanently set up to cut continuous core longitudinally, the other to cut the larger samples.

The plugging machine is capable of taking plugs (small cylinders) of various diameters and from various materials.

This machine cuts the plastic casing from core to enable inspection.

The two lapping machines are used to polish samples. Two silicon carbide grit sizes are used — 240 and 600 — enabling a very smooth surface to be attained. Lapped samples are then often lacquered to show the fine detail.

The core crusher is used to break samples in a controlled manner.

A mobile extractor is available for when dusty work is being undertaken.

The surface grinder is used to finish samples to an accuracy of a few microns and different beds can be used to accommodate many sample sizes.

Contact Materials Collections

For further information contact Materials collections

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