The automated serial sectioning system will have the following capabilities and specifications: Specimen preparation system: - The system shall be capable, under computer control, of polishing a mounted sample, cleaning and drying the polished surface, digitally imaging it at a prescribed magnification, store the image(s), and then repeating the processes in with precision. - The system shall be capable of using up to 8 automatically exchanged grinding/polishing platens for material removal of metallographic mounts. - The system shall be capable of dispensing up to 6 different polishing solutions at programmable rates (interval and duration). - The system shall have at least three immersion wells to hold chemicals for specimen etching, neutralizing, and cleaning. Wells should be automatically be covered when not in use to control fumes and prevent cross contamination. - The system shall include an ultrasonic cleaning station and a clean water rinsing station. - The system shall include forced air drying. - The system shall accommodate cylindrical metallographic mounts up of sizes 1", 1.25", 1.5", and 2" in diameter. - The imaging station shall include an isolated mass (typically granite) for the placement of the optical microscope to minimize vibration during high magnification imaging. Computer system: - Computer shall run the Microsoft Windows operating system (ver. 7 or 10) - System software shall be capable of programmable control of: specimen position using the robotic arm, grinding/polishing platen speed and direction, magnitude of force on the specimen during polishing, dispensing of polishing fluids, platen selection from multi-platen cassette system, specimen cleaning and drying, and complete control of the optical microscope (x and y stage position and focal length, lens selection, and digital image acquisition). - Shall include a large monitor (at least 24" diagonal). Optical microscope: - The optical microscope shall be of an inverted design. - Shall have a motorized lens turret capable of holding up to 5 lenses. - Shall include at least 5x, 10x, and 20x objective lenses. - Shall include a digital camera with 5 Megapixel (2584 x 1936) resolution and 36-bit color depth. - The microscope shall have motorized, computer controlled positioning of the specimen stage in x, y, and z (focus) directions.