background image

8530 Shatterbox 

Page 16 of 28 

SPEX SamplePrep LLC                                   January 2010 

 

5.1.4

 Emptying and Cleaning the Grinding Container

 (Cont’d) 

 

A cleaned grinding container, which will not be used for some time, should be stored in a plastic 
bag.  Hardened steel grinding containers should always be dried and stored carefully, as they 
are prone to surface rusting.    
 

5.1.5 

Grinding Hints

 

 
It is risky to give exact formulas for sample grinding because there are so many variables.  Few 
types  of  sample  have  the  same  grinding  characteristics.    Grinding  containers  are  made  of 
different materials, all of which grind differently; furthermore, a worn grinding container will be 
less  efficient than  a  new  one.   While  there  are  many analytical  techniques that  require finely 
ground  samples,  the  necessary  particle  size  for  proper  analytical  results  may  vary  from 
instrument  to  instrument  and  from  sample  to  sample.    Consequently  these  guidelines  are 
general. 
 
For any grinding container, the smaller the overall sample size, the finer it can be ground in a 
given time.   Unless a sample cakes during grinding, the longer it is ground, the finer it will get.  
Particle size can almost always be lowered further by reducing the sample size or lengthening 
the grinding time, or both. 
 
Dry grinding is relatively efficient for most brittle materials, but at small particle sizes (below 50 
microns)  there  is  a  tendency  for  particles  to  stick  back  together,  or  "cake."    There  are  many 
grinding  aids  to  prevent  caking.    Water,  alcohol,  solvents,  and  other  liquids  can  be  added  to 
create  slurries  whose  mean  particle  size  after  grinding  can  be  well  below  10  microns,  but for 
most  analytical  techniques  the  liquid  must  be  removed  before  analysis.    Dry  grinding  aids 
include soap powders, detergents, stearates, and aspirin, all added to comprise 1% to 10% of 
the  total  sample  weight.    SPEX  recommends  a  technique  pioneered  by  Howard  Kanare  of 
Construction  Technology  Laboratory:    ethylene  glycol  or  propylene  glycol  is  added  to  the 
sample in the amount of one drop for every five to ten grams of sample. 
 
In most analytical work it is important to reproduce particle size from sample to sample.  Like 
other  laboratory  mills,  the  Shatterbox  requires  a  fixed  routine  to  accomplish  this:    a  uniform 
sample weight, grinding aid, grinding time, container, etc.  You are welcome to telephone SPEX 
SamplePrep LLC at 1-800 522-7739 or 732-549-7144 to discuss your particular application. 

 

Summary of Contents for ENCLOSED SHATTERBOX 8530

Page 1: ...erty St Metuchen NJ 08840 732 623 0465 www spexsampleprep com 8530 ENCLOSED SHATTERBOX OPERATING MANUAL For 8530 115 and 8530 230 Shatterbox with Serial Numbers 07000 and higher this manual is Part No...

Page 2: ...5 1 Grinding Containers 13 6 0 Maintenance 17 6 1 Shatterbox Part Numbers 17 6 2 Cleaning the Shatterbox 17 6 3 Replacing Drive Belts 17 6 4 Clamp Mechanism Maintenance and Replacement 18 6 5 Tighten...

Page 3: ...ntainers are available in hardened steel tungsten carbide alumina ceramic and zirconia ceramic The full range of Shatterbox grinding containers is described in detail in the SPEX Handbook of Sample Pr...

Page 4: ...7 7 two prong plug supplied NOTE Operator is responsible for supplying alternate line cord plug if required Fuses 115V 60Hz version 10 amp slow blow fuse in inlet module 230V 50Hz version 5 amp slow...

Page 5: ...ace Check the power switch which is on the back of the cabinet next to the electrical inlet Diagram C Item 48 this switch should be in the off position the 0 should be pushed in when the power cord is...

Page 6: ...arms properly separated tighten the setscrews use a 1 8 Allen wrench As re installing the access panel note the electrical inlet on off switch and the fuse holder on the left side of the access panel...

Page 7: ...S CLAMP A CONTAINER IN PLACE WHEN RUNNING THE SHATTERBOX 2 DO NOT OVERTIGHTEN THE CLAMP 3 DO NOT OPEN THE LID UNTIL THE LID LATCH IS DISENGAGED 4 ALWAYS UNPLUG THE MILL BEFORE OPENING THE CABINET ACCE...

Page 8: ...ertightening the clamp can damage it Such damage is not covered by the warranty The different parts of the clamp are illustrated in Diagram A To use the clamp first swing the clamp arm to the left sid...

Page 9: ...will light up The timer can now be programmed Pressing this switch to the off position 0 will switch off power to the mill 4 5 2 Digital Timer The timer includes a minutes seconds numerical display p...

Page 10: ...ts 2 55 2 50 2 45 etc Every time power is turned off and back on the timer will revert to the 3 00 default setting To keep another timer setting leave the power on If power is not interrupted the time...

Page 11: ...stay latched After 5 seconds the original timer setting will re appear and the lid latch will release To have the mill pause during a run and retain the timer setting push the pause button The motor...

Page 12: ...lement s from the container Clamp the container into the capsule retainer Make sure that the friction disc is properly placed and the grinding container is firmly seated If the clamp is properly adjus...

Page 13: ...f and tungsten carbide for the small amounts of Ti Ta and Nb present Performance is also important the denser the grinding container material the more rapid the grinding Tungsten carbide is the denses...

Page 14: ...a Large 8521 Large Hardened Steel grinding container with puck and ring Typical sample capacity 60 100 grams sample volume range 30 120 ml The sample volume ranges given above are estimates not absolu...

Page 15: ...amp causing damage to both the mill and container 5 1 4 Emptying and Cleaning the Grinding Container The grinding container is usually emptied by brushing out the ground sample Typically a technician...

Page 16: ...ner it will get Particle size can almost always be lowered further by reducing the sample size or lengthening the grinding time or both Dry grinding is relatively efficient for most brittle materials...

Page 17: ...hly Diagram A Item 13 Clean off any excess dust or dirt from the outer segments of the clamp with special attention being placed on the hinge sections and on the roller It may be necessary to oil the...

Page 18: ...p levers are replaced in a similar way by pushing the pin out of the yoke removing the old arm or lever replacing it re inserting the pin and holding the pin in place with a C clip 6 5 Tightening or R...

Page 19: ...the door on the fuse compartment by gently prying it open at the top and flipping it down Use a small screwdriver to gently pry the red fuse holder out of the compartment as shown in Figure 3 Remove t...

Page 20: ...uter Dimensions dia x height 17 5 x 8cm Weight 12 5kg Recommended Load 20 60ml Complete with Dish Lid Ring Puck Gasket 8505 Alumina Ceramic Grinding Container Outer Dimensions dia x height 15 2 x 8cm...

Page 21: ...lete with Dish Lid Puck Gasket 8507R Rack Holds one or three 8507 or 8508 grinding containers Rack base assembly and lid included rack with three grinding containers lifts easily in and out of Shatter...

Page 22: ...of 28 SPEX SamplePrep LLC January 2010 This page contains restricted content To download the full unabridged version of this manual please visit our website at www spexsampleprep com or call Customer...

Page 23: ...of 28 SPEX SamplePrep LLC January 2010 This page contains restricted content To download the full unabridged version of this manual please visit our website at www spexsampleprep com or call Customer...

Page 24: ...of 28 SPEX SamplePrep LLC January 2010 This page contains restricted content To download the full unabridged version of this manual please visit our website at www spexsampleprep com or call Customer...

Page 25: ...of 28 SPEX SamplePrep LLC January 2010 This page contains restricted content To download the full unabridged version of this manual please visit our website at www spexsampleprep com or call Customer...

Page 26: ...of 28 SPEX SamplePrep LLC January 2010 This page contains restricted content To download the full unabridged version of this manual please visit our website at www spexsampleprep com or call Customer...

Page 27: ...of 28 SPEX SamplePrep LLC January 2010 This page contains restricted content To download the full unabridged version of this manual please visit our website at www spexsampleprep com or call Customer...

Page 28: ...site www spexsampleprep com E mail sampleprep spexcsp com In Europe please contact our European Headquarters at SPEX CertiPrep Ltd 2 Dalston Gardens Stanmore Middlesex HA7 1BQ United Kingdom Tel 44 0...

Reviews: