1. AMPT Lab Polishing Guidelines
1. Turn hot plate on to 100 degrees C
2. Place platen (sample mount) on hot plate
3. Grab the flatting tool from main lab table or cabinets near vacuum and screw in 4 of the
smaller screws into the bottom surface of the flatting tool
4. Cut off a small piece of crystal (I forgot the name) from cabinets near vacuum and place
on mount on hot plate
5. Grab channel lock from the brown tool box and tweezers from box labeled tweezers
usually on the main lab table
6. Use tweezers to set sample on mount
7. After some time remove mount from hot plate using the channel lock, and place it on
copper block to cool
a. Gently push down on the sample with the tweezers for a short time
8. Grab one of each sandpaper polishing plate from the cabinets near entrance
a. 320
b. 600
c. 800
i. Bags labeled HA x µm Trev contain (take whole bag)
1. 6 µm
2. 3 µm
3. 1 µm
9. Things to take to polishing station
a. Dialube lapping lube bottle
b. 1 µm Diamat Polycrystalline bottle
c. 3 µm Diamat Polycrystalline bottle
d. 6 µm Diamat Polycrystalline bottle
e. Ethanol bottle (labeled with blue tape)
f. Heat gun (cabinets near vacuum)
g. 100mL beaker
h. Soap
i. Shaving brush
10. Go back to the sample and place sample mount in top side of flatting tool and carefully
rotate and screw in the top piece of the flatting tool
a. Adjust the tightness of small screws as to level sample with embedding on the
bottom of the flatting tool
i. This is usually achieved by tightening until screws are snug and loosening
the screws 6 times around
11. Take sample and other items before mentioned (8-9)to the polishing station
12. Clear polishing station area and organize pads and bottles

2. Rotation guidelines
320 – 50 rotations
600 – 50 rotations
800 – 50 rotations
6 µm – 100 rotations
3 µm – 300 rotations
1 µm – 500 rotations
13. Take the 320 sandpaper
Precautions:
-Always close lid of rotating plate when not in use to avoid contamination
-If hearing a clicking noise while polishing, check for bubbles and re-apply sandpaper
14. Remove adhesive back of sandpaper and place on rotating plate according to the
following instructions:
a. Remove ring around rotating plate
b. Folding pad in a “taco” shape, center unto rotating plate and radially flatten the
pad making sure to avoid bubbles under the pad
15. Put a thin stream of running water unto the pad
16. Turn on the rotating plate to a speed of 500
17. Take the flatting tool and gently lower the end with the sample unto the rotating pad by
grabbing the groove sides of the flatting tool with one hand and supporting the loose top
part with your other hand, not letting go until the flatting tool is in contact with the
rotating pad
18. Holding the flatting tool around the grooved area with both hands, rotate the sample in
the opposite direction of the rotating plate for the indicated amount of rotations
a. At around 30 rotations check the smoothness of the sample, if not ready resume
rotations
19. When finished check for smoothness of sample and if ready remove the sandpaper from
the rotating plate and place away from polishing area
20. Take the 600 sandpaper and repeat steps 14-19
21. Take the 800 sandpaper and repeat steps 14-18
22. When finished, rinse sample with ethanol and then heat up to check for smoothness of
sample, if ready move on
23. Rinse gloves with ethanol and dry off
24. Take the 6 µm polishing pad out of the bag
Precautions:
-Always close the bag in which the micron pads are contained
-Always store in bag folded across the middle
-If pad becomes dry, apply 1 drip of lube
-AVOID CONTAMINATION OF SAMPLE

3. 25. Clean rotating pad with a paper towel before placing pad
26. Stick pad to plate in the same manner as previous pads
27. Turn on the rotating plate at 500
28. Apply 1 drip of lube and 2 sprays of respective Diamat Polycrystalline from the center
to the edge of the pad
29. Take the flatting tool and gently lower the end with the sample unto the rotating pad by
grabbing the grooved sides of the flatting tool with one hand and supporting the loose top
part with your other hand, not letting go until the flatting tool is in contact with the
rotating pad
30. When ¾ through the required amount of rotations, check for smoothness of sample by
rinsing with ethanol and heating with heat gun
31. If sample is ready, remove the pad from the rotating plate and store in its respective bag
32. To rinse sample begin by placing a small amount of soap into the beaker
33. Remove sample from flatting tool and rinse every part plus the sample with water
34. Apply water to the beaker and mix with brush
35. Use brush to thoroughly rinse sample and flatting tool and allow to dry
36. Get new gloves and re-assemble sample in flatting tool
37. Take the 3 µm pad and repeat steps 25-36
38. Take the 1 µm pad and repeat steps 25-35
39. Clean polishing area and return all items plus sample to lab area
40. Ensure the sample is labeled correctly