Faster prep

How to avoid the 6 most common cutting problems

In this in-depth article, our materialographic specialists outline the six most common cutting challenges – and how to solve them.

  • Eliminate burs and thermal damage
  • Avoid cracks in thin materials and pinching in large workpieces
  • Work effectively with odd-shape pieces and avoid deflections

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Catalog

New consumables catalog

Find your consumables easily with the search function or try our Selection Guides to find the ideal solution for you.

Updated with:
  • Latest application insights
  • Improved How-to guides
  • Expert Tips & Tricks

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Magnutom 5000

New Magnutom-5000: Let’s Cut to the Point

A section is only as accurate as the quality of the clamping. New Magnutom-5000 is the largest machine in its field with an automated four-axis rotary table. This means no time wasted re-clamping.

With the innovative, patent pending simulator function, Magnutom-5000 can simulate all individual sections for you to correct or validate before sectioning. No time or materials are wasted on trial sections. Let’s cut to the point.

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Service plans

SERVICE PLANS

Be certain of maximum uptime with a Struers Service Plan

Choose from a variety of plans to find the solution that best meets your needs for quality and uptime – and helps your business run smoothly.

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Prontofix

The wait is over

ProntoFix – the fast-curing epoxy cold mounting system

Now you can get the quality of a high-performance epoxy system, without the wait. ProntoFix gives you the finest transparency , low shrinkage and excellent impregnability in a fast-curing system – which means you can prepare, mount and analyze your specimens the same day.

Excellent performance, and much faster than traditional epoxies, ProntoFix is now available.

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Catalog

New consumables catalog

Find your consumables easily with the search function or try our Selection Guides to find the ideal solution for you.

CLICK – IT’S HERE!

Magnutom 5000

New Magnutom-5000: Let’s Cut to the Point

A section is only as accurate as the quality of the clamping. New Magnutom-5000 is the largest machine in its field with an automated four-axis rotary table. This means no time wasted re-clamping.

With the innovative, patent pending simulator function, Magnutom-5000 can simulate all individual sections for you to correct or validate before sectioning. No time or materials are wasted on trial sections. Let’s cut to the point.

Read more

Serviceplans

SERVICE PLANS

Choose from a variety of plans to find the solution that best meets your needs for quality and uptime – and helps your business run smoothly.

Read more

Prontofix banner

The wait is over

ProntoFix gives you full transparency, low shrinkage and excellent impregnability in a fast-curing system. The result? You can mount, prepare and analyze your specimens the same day, to increase the quality and speed of your processes.

Read more

Search struers.com

Webinars & Courses

Find new knowledge and inspiration by taking part in Struers training courses and Webinars. Gain valuable insights into the latest applications and preparation methods via knowledge sharing. Refresh your knowledge or learn new techniques with our application experts. The choice is yours!

Find out how

Academy

Services & Spare Parts

Struers ServiceGuard is a comprehensive range of technical services and training designed to help you guard the availability, predictability and uptime of your Struers equipment.

Find out more

Solutions

Sign up for Struers news

Make sure you are aware of the latest innovations in materialographic preparation by subscribing to our electronic newsletters and other knowledge sources.

Sign up

Stay connected.

Customized products

All Struers' equipment can be customized to fulfill your special needs. Whether you need cutting machines, grinding and polishing solutions, mounting equipment, or any other materialographic solution, you can be sure of a dedicated solution based on world-class quality and precision. 

Contact us

Materialographic analysis

A full range for all needs

You can find the right equipment for every conceivable materialographic preparation need to make sure you achieve the quality, productivity, and cost efficiency you are looking for.

  • Cutting equipment
  • Mounting equipment
  • Grinding and polishing equipment
  • Hardness testers
  • Image analysis equipment
  • Customized equipment

READ MORE

Cutting Equipment

Cutting Equipment

You can choose from a wide range of cut-off machines for workpieces of all sizes. All machines offer superior quality and precision, extreme durability, user-friendliness, and low cost per specimen.

Go to Cutting Equipment

Hot mounting

Hot Mounting

You can find a variety of mounting presses for every purpose – from semi-automatic presses for mounting of a few samples to fully automatic, high-speed, dual cylinder presses for high throughput.

Go to Mounting Equipment

Did you know…

… that Struers also has equipment for preparation of radioactive material? The Struers hot cell system enables remote handling of specimens for precision cutting, hot mounting, and grinding using manipulators?
DuraJet G5 in production environment

Hardness Testing Equipment

Find a complete selection of equipment for macro and micro hardness testing!

Go to Hardness Testing Equipment

Grinding and Polishing Equipment

Struers offers a complete selection of equipment, accessories, and consumables for grinding and polishing. You can choose from manual systems for the preparation of the occasional sample to powerful, fully automatic preparation solutions for high-volume processing with outstanding reproducibility. 

Go to Grinding and Polishing Equipment

ServiceGuard Assessment Package

Application Specialists

Ask the Struers Applications Specialists team for assistance at any time.

Did you know...

… that MoviPol, the first mechanical polishing machine, was introduced in 1943 by Struers? It was followed in 1949 by Electropol, an electrolytic polishing machine?
Automatic cleaning

Automatic Cleaning Equipment 

Eliminate the time-consuming manual cleaning process between preparation steps! Lavamin is an innovative, stand-alone cleaning unit for specimens.

Lavamin Product Page

Electrolytic polishing

Electrolytic Polishing Equipment

You can choose from automatic microprocessor-controlled polishing equipment and automatic electrolytic thinning - a fast and efficient method.

Go to Electrolytic Equipment

ServiceGuard Training Package

Customized Products

If you need modifications to our standard designs, simply ask our experts before purchasing.

Did you know...

… that Struers has a unique knowledge base with more than 500 systematic and proven methods covering the complete range of metals, ceramics, electronics, minerals, polymers, composites, and organic materials?

Sign up to be an e-metalog user.
Materialographic analysis

Materialographic Analysis Equipment

Microscopic inspection of welds and structures is no longer necessary in many cases. WeldingExpert and StructureExpert provide dedicated digital solutions.
Struers accessories - clamping tool

Accessories

Original Struers accessories enable you to use your Struers equipment for dedicated tasks and to boost productivity.
Struers application specialists

Did you know...

… that Struers is the only materialographic equipment supplier with an elite team of 27 applications specialists?

Consumables

Successful specimen preparation depends on the correct choice of consumables. You can find a comprehensive range of consumables for cutting, mounting, grinding, and polishing at the Struers e-Shop.

Go to Consumables in e-shop

A full range of all needs

A full range for all needs

You can find the right equipment for every conceivable materialographic preparation need to make sure you achieve the quality, productivity, and cost efficiency you are looking for.

See the full range of equipment

DuraJet G5 on production floor

Cutting Equipment

You can choose from a wide range of cut-off machines for workpieces of all sizes. All machines offer superior quality and precision, extreme durability, user-friendliness, and low cost per specimen.

Go to Cutting Equipment

Hot Mounting

Hot Mounting

You can find a variety of mounting presses for every purpose – from semi-automatic presses for mounting of a few samples to fully automatic, high-speed, dual cylinder presses for high throughput.

Did you know…

… that Struers also has equipment for preparation of radioactive material? The Struers hot cell system enables remote handling of specimens for precision cutting, hot mounting, and grinding using manipulators?
SG Optimization Assessement Package

Application Specialists

Ask the Struers Applications Specialists team for assistance at any time.

Go to Application Specialists

Automatic Cleaning Equipment

Automatic Cleaning Equipment

Eliminate the time-consuming manual cleaning process between preparation steps! Lavamin is an innovative, stand-alone cleaning unit for specimens.

Grinding and Polishing Equipment

Struers offers a complete selection of equipment, accessories, and consumables for grinding and polishing. You can choose from manual systems for the preparation of the occasional sample to powerful, fully automatic preparation solutions for high-volume processing with outstanding reproducibility.
Electrolytic Polishing

Electrolytic Polishing Equipment

You can choose from automatic microprocessor-controlled polishing equipment and automatic electrolytic thinning - a fast and efficient method.

Go to Electrolytic Equipment

SG Maintenance Training Package

Customized Products

If you need modifications to our standard designs, simply ask our experts before purchasing.
Materialographic Analysis

Materialographic Analysis Equipment

Microscopic inspection of welds and structures is no longer necessary in many cases. WeldingExpert and StructureExpert provide dedicated digital solutions.

Consumables

Successful specimen preparation depends on the correct choice of consumables. You can find a comprehensive range of consumables for cutting, mounting, grinding, and polishing at the Struers e-Shop.
Accessories

Accessories

Original Struers accessories enable you to use your Struers equipment for dedicated tasks and to boost productivity.

Sign up for e-metalog guide

Did you know

Did you know...

… that Struers is the only materialographic equipment supplier with an elite team of 27 applications specialists?

Meet the Application Specialists

A full range of all needs

A full range for all needs

You can find the right equipment for every conceivable materialographic preparation need to make sure you achieve the quality, productivity, and cost efficiency you are looking for.

See the full range of equipment

DuraJet G5 on production floor

Cutting Equipment

You can choose from a wide range of cut-off machines for workpieces of all sizes. All machines offer superior quality and precision, extreme durability, user-friendliness, and low cost per specimen.

Go to Cutting Equipment

Hot Mounting

Hot Mounting

You can find a variety of mounting presses for every purpose – from semi-automatic presses for mounting of a few samples to fully automatic, high-speed, dual cylinder presses for high throughput.

Did you know…

… that Struers also has equipment for preparation of radioactive material? The Struers hot cell system enables remote handling of specimens for precision cutting, hot mounting, and grinding using manipulators?
SG Optimization Assessement Package

Application Specialists

Ask the Struers Applications Specialists team for assistance at any time.

Go to Application Specialists

Automatic Cleaning Equipment

Automatic Cleaning Equipment

Eliminate the time-consuming manual cleaning process between preparation steps! Lavamin is an innovative, stand-alone cleaning unit for specimens.

Grinding and Polishing Equipment

Struers offers a complete selection of equipment, accessories, and consumables for grinding and polishing. You can choose from manual systems for the preparation of the occasional sample to powerful, fully automatic preparation solutions for high-volume processing with outstanding reproducibility.
Electrolytic Polishing

Electrolytic Polishing Equipment

You can choose from automatic microprocessor-controlled polishing equipment and automatic electrolytic thinning - a fast and efficient method.

Go to Electrolytic Equipment

SG Maintenance Training Package

Customized Products

If you need modifications to our standard designs, simply ask our experts before purchasing.
Materialographic Analysis

Materialographic Analysis Equipment

Microscopic inspection of welds and structures is no longer necessary in many cases. WeldingExpert and StructureExpert provide dedicated digital solutions.

Consumables

Successful specimen preparation depends on the correct choice of consumables. You can find a comprehensive range of consumables for cutting, mounting, grinding, and polishing at the Struers e-Shop.
Accessories

Accessories

Original Struers accessories enable you to use your Struers equipment for dedicated tasks and to boost productivity.

Sign up for e-metalog guide

Did you know

Did you know...

… that Struers is the only materialographic equipment supplier with an elite team of 27 applications specialists?

Meet the Application Specialists

Industries

Each industry has its own challenges and demands that are all important factors in our technology innovation and solution development. You can benefit from decades of experience and innovation in multiple industries, leading to the unique level of quality, precision, and efficiency that characterize Struers materialographic solutions today.

Application specialists

The fast track to expert knowledge…

Helle Michaelsen

Helle Michaelsen

Global Business Solution & Application Manager
Struers Aps.
Ballerup, Denmark
Contact
Birgitte Nielsen

Birgitte Nielsen

Metallographer,
Application Specialist
Struers Aps.
Ballerup, Denmark
Contact
Maria Lindegren

Maria Lindegren

Ph.D. in Metal Forming,
Application Specialist
Struers Aps.
Ballerup, Denmark
Contact
Marcello Manca

Marcello Manca

PhD, Mechanical Engineer,
Application Specialist
Struers ApS
Ballerup, Denmark
Contact
Farouk Mouzafer

Farouk Mouzafer

Application Engineer
Struers ApS
Ballerup, Danmark
Contact
Olafsson Olafur

Ólafur Ólafsson

Application Specialist
Struers Aps.
Ballerup, Denmark
Contact
James Silvester

James Silvester

B.Eng. (Hons.) Materials Engineering, Sheffield, Hallam University,
Application Specialist
Struers Ltd.
Rotherham, UK
Contact
Holger Schnarr

Holger Schnarr

Doctorate Degree in Engineering and Degree of Engineering in Material Science,
Application Specialist
Struers GmbH
Willich, Germany
Contact
Ulrich Setzer

Ulrich Setzer

Materials Engineer, Degree of Technical Assistant for Metallography and Material Science,
Application Specialist
Struers GmbH
Willich , Germany
Contact
Roman Gerund

Roman Gerund

Degree of Technical Assistant for Metallography and Material Science,
Application Specialist
Struers GmbH
Willich, Germany
Contact
Quentin Roissac

Quentin Roissac

Application Specialist
Struers SAS
Champigny sur Marne, France
Contact
Christian Wegierski

Christian Wegierski

Application Specialist
Struers GmbH
Willich, Germany
Contact
Caroline Moussu

Caroline Moussu

Lab Manager
Struers SAS
Champigny sur Marne, France
Contact
Marco Caruso

Marco Caruso

Metallographer,
Application Specialist
Struers S.A.S.
Arese, Italy
Contact
Kelsey Torboil

Kelsey Torboli

Application Specialist
Struers Inc.
Cleveland, Ohio, US
Contact
Brian Jones

Brian Jones

Application Specialist
Struers Inc.
Cleveland, Ohio, US
Contact
Xiuping Jiang

Xiuping Jiang

Ph.D., M.Sc. in Material Science and Engineering,
Application and Laboratory Manager
Struers Ltd.
Shanghai, China
Contact
Zhe Chen

Zhe Chen

Master's Degree in Materials Science and Engineering,
Application Specialist
Struers Ltd.
Shanghai, China
Contact
Kenny Lim

Kenny Lim

Application Specialist
Struers Singapore
Singapore , Singapore
Contact
Charily Zhen

Charily Zhen

Application Engineer
Struers Ltd
Shanghai, China
Contact
Kinichi Ishikawa

Kinichi Ishikawa

Ms.C. in Industrial Science,
Application Specialist
Marumoto Struers K.K
Tokyo, Japan
Contact
Allen Zhen

Allen Chen

Application Engineer
Struers Ltd
Shanghai, China
Contact
Yuya Hayakawa

Yuya Hayakawa

M.Sc. in Manual Science and Engineering,
Application Specialist
Marumoto Struers K.K
Tokyo, Japan
Contact

Knowledge

Knowledge leadership brings with it a duty to share scientific insights and practical expertise that help you to acquire the skills you need to achieve excellence.

Go to Knowledge

Materialographic structure

How to

You can make sure that you and your staff have the right knowledge at the right level for your operation by making use of Struers’ unique materialography knowledge base.

  • Cutting guides
  • Mounting guides
  • Grinding and polishing guides
  • Electrolytic preparation guides
  • Hardness testing guides
  • Etching guides

READ MORE

Direct Cut Cover picture

Cutting Knowledge

A high-quality surface gives you shorter preparation time. Your choice of cut-off wheel is extremely important in order to ensure minimum deformation and a plane surface.

Go to Cutting Knowledge

Cold mounting

Cold-Mounting Knowledge

Cold mounting uses vacuum impregnation to reinforce and protect materials requiring special care during preparation such as ceramics, plasma sprayed coatings, and specimens for failure analysis. 

Go to Cold Mounting Knowledge

Did you know...

… that Struers introduced a fully automatic mounting press in the early 1970s?
Preheating

Hot-Mounting Knowledge

Hot mounting produces high-quality mounts of uniform size and shape.

Go to Hot Mounting Knowledge

About Grinding and Polishing

Correct selection of abrasive disks and polishing cloths is vital for producing a plane surface as fast as possible and with minimal damage that can be removed easily during polishing. 

Go to Grinding and Polishing Knowledge

ServiceGuard Assessment Package

Meet the application specialists

And discover new process opportunities. 

Did you know...

… that the composite disks with magnetic fixation that almost everyone uses today were first introduced by Struers in 1995?
Metallographic preparation

Materials/application notes

The type of material is the single most important factor when choosing a materialographic solution. Struers Application Notes give you concentrated and precise information about specific materials and their application.

Go to Material

Electrolytic polishing

Electrolytic Polishing Knowledge

Successful electrolytic preparation requires the right choice of method. You can see ten standard methods for different materials and an electrolyte guide if none of these fits your material.

Go to Electrolytic Preparation Knowledge

Rockwell

Hardness Testing Knowledge

Successful hardness testing depends on the correct choice of method and load for the material. Achieve the best result.

Did you know...

… that Struers already in 1875 imported chemicals and instruments that were used for etching for the manual preparation of metal specimens for microscopic inspection?
Materialographic solutions

Materialographic Solutions

If you need to improve preparation of a particular material or a particular preparation step, you can ask for support from a Struers Application Specialist. 
Microscopy

Microscopy Knowledge

You can use Struers knowledge resources to get the most out of your microscopy equipment. Improve precision!
Etching

Etching Knowledge

Your assurance of a true microstructure for the purpose of the investigation depends on a correct and reproducible etching process, preferably in as short a time as possible. 

Did you know ...

… that Struers has been a leading supplier of hardness testing machine since the turn of the millennium?

… or that the first electrolytic polishing machine was introduced by Struers in 1949?

Go to Hardness Testing Equipment Go to Electrolytic Equipment

How to

How to

You can make sure you and your staff have the right knowledge at the right level for your operation by making use of Struers’ unique materialography knowledge base.

Find the “how to” guides you need

Direct Cut Cover

Cutting Knowledge

A high-quality surface gives you shorter preparation time. Your choice of cut-off wheel is extremely important in order to ensure minimum deformation and a plane surface.

Go to Cutting Knowledge

Cold Mounting

Cold Mounting Knowledge

Cold mounting uses vacuum impregnation to reinforce and protect materials requiring special care during preparation such as ceramics, plasma sprayed coatings, and specimens for failure analysis.

Did you know ...

… that Struers introduced a fully automatic mounting press in the early 1970s?
Preheating

Hot Mounting Knowledge

Hot mounting produces high-quality mounts of uniform size and shape.

Go to Hot Mounting Knowledge

SG Optimization Assessement Package

Meet the Application Specialists

And discover new process opportunities.

About Grinding and Polishing

Correct selection of abrasive discs and polishing cloths is vital for producing a plane surface as fast as possible and with minimal damage that can be removed easily during polishing.
Materials Application

Materials/application notes

The type of material is the single most important factor when choosing a materialographic solution. Struers Application Notes give you concentrated and precise information about specific materials and their application.

Go to Material

Electrolytic Polishing

Electrolytic Polishing Knowledge

Successful electrolytic preparation requires the right choice of method. You can see 10 standard methods for different materials and an electrolyte guide if none of these fits your material.

Go to Electrolytic Preparation Knowledge

Materalographic Solutions

Materialographic Solutions

If you need to improve preparation of a particular material or a particular preparation step, you can ask for support from a Struers Application Specialist.

Did you know...

… that Struers already in 1875 imported chemicals and instruments that were used for etching for the manual preparation of metal specimens for microscopic inspection?
Rockwell

Hardness Testing Knowledge

Successful hardness testing depends on the correct choice of method and load for the material. Achieve the best result.

Go to Hardness Testing Knowledge

Etching

Etching Knowledge

Your assurance of a true microstructure for the purpose of the investigation depends on a correct and reproducible etching process, preferably in as short a time as possible.

Did you know ...

… that Struers has been a leading supplier of hardness testing machine since the turn of the millennium?

… or that the first electrolytic polishing machine was introduced by Struers in 1949?
Microscopy Knowledge

Microscopy Knowledge

You can use Struers knowledge resources to get the most out of your microscopy equipment. Improve precision!

Go to Microscopy Knowledge

How to

How to

You can make sure you and your staff have the right knowledge at the right level for your operation by making use of Struers’ unique materialography knowledge base.

Find the “how to” guides you need

Direct Cut Cover

Cutting Knowledge

A high-quality surface gives you shorter preparation time. Your choice of cut-off wheel is extremely important in order to ensure minimum deformation and a plane surface.

Go to Cutting Knowledge

Cold Mounting

Cold Mounting Knowledge

Cold mounting uses vacuum impregnation to reinforce and protect materials requiring special care during preparation such as ceramics, plasma sprayed coatings, and specimens for failure analysis.

Did you know ...

… that Struers introduced a fully automatic mounting press in the early 1970s?
Preheating

Hot Mounting Knowledge

Hot mounting produces high-quality mounts of uniform size and shape.

Go to Hot Mounting Knowledge

SG Optimization Assessement Package

Meet the Application Specialists

And discover new process opportunities.

About Grinding and Polishing

Correct selection of abrasive discs and polishing cloths is vital for producing a plane surface as fast as possible and with minimal damage that can be removed easily during polishing.
Materials Application

Materials/application notes

The type of material is the single most important factor when choosing a materialographic solution. Struers Application Notes give you concentrated and precise information about specific materials and their application.

Go to Material

Electrolytic Polishing

Electrolytic Polishing Knowledge

Successful electrolytic preparation requires the right choice of method. You can see 10 standard methods for different materials and an electrolyte guide if none of these fits your material.

Go to Electrolytic Preparation Knowledge

Materalographic Solutions

Materialographic Solutions

If you need to improve preparation of a particular material or a particular preparation step, you can ask for support from a Struers Application Specialist.

Did you know...

… that Struers already in 1875 imported chemicals and instruments that were used for etching for the manual preparation of metal specimens for microscopic inspection?
Rockwell

Hardness Testing Knowledge

Successful hardness testing depends on the correct choice of method and load for the material. Achieve the best result.

Go to Hardness Testing Knowledge

Etching

Etching Knowledge

Your assurance of a true microstructure for the purpose of the investigation depends on a correct and reproducible etching process, preferably in as short a time as possible.

Did you know ...

… that Struers has been a leading supplier of hardness testing machine since the turn of the millennium?

… or that the first electrolytic polishing machine was introduced by Struers in 1949?
Microscopy Knowledge

Microscopy Knowledge

You can use Struers knowledge resources to get the most out of your microscopy equipment. Improve precision!

Go to Microscopy Knowledge

Developing Skills

Developing Skills

Multilingual online training, Webinars, training courses, road shows, and seminars at Struers locations worldwide are our contribution to raising materialographic expertise all over the world.

  • Live
  • Recorded
  • On-site
  • Multiple languages

Find new competence opportunities

Global brands that place their trust in our equipment and services

We are proud of the strong partnerships that we have built with leading industrial brands, prestigious universities, and respected research establishments. They demand a supplier with global reach, world-class equipment, and in-depth knowledge that they can rely on.

Stahlhärterei Haupt GmbH:
Federal Mogul Powertrain Logo
Nissan Logo
John Crane Logo
WWU Münster Institut für Planetologie Logo
XPS Consulting and Testwork Services Logo
Yutaka logo