Made to order

With every system

RUBIN 520 head with sample holder and quick-change adapters
Install, training and matched starter consumables + validated methods

Manual Grinder & Polisher, Grinders & Polishers

SAPHIR 560 / RUBIN 520

The QATM SAPHIR 560 with the motor-driven RUBIN 520 head is a twin-wheel metallographic grinder-polisher — two independent wheels let you grind on one and polish on the other, preparing 1–6 mounted samples per run with automatic material-removal measurement for deformation-free surfaces.

✔ Twin Ø 200–300 mm wheels · single force 5–100 N or central force via holder
✔ Automatic material-removal measurement to 0.01 mm · touch-screen stored methods
✔ Lead time: 4–8 weeks — configured to order · install & training included

Prices follow supplier cost and stock availability and are updated regularly. The price you see is today's price — once you order, it's held for 7 days.

Install + training included Tailored service plan

2 working wheels

1–6 samples per run

0.01 mm removal set accuracy

40 yrs QATM materialography

Built for QA & metallography labs

What your metallography lab actually checks

Two wheels, one footprint

Two independent Ø 200–300 mm wheels, each on its own 0.75 kW drive, let you grind on one and polish on the other without swapping discs — roughly doubling throughput in a single bench. The RUBIN 520 head still applies individual force per sample and measures removal to 0.01 mm for repeatable, deformation-free surfaces.

A materialography engineer on the line

Wheel size, sample holders and preparation methods matched to your material mix by engineers who run metallographic prep in-house at Additive Plus. Sub-4h reply, NDA standard.

2 × Ø 200–300 mm

Working wheels

1–6 × ø 50 mm

Samples per run

5–80 N

Single force

50–600 rpm

Wheel speed

~110 kg

Weight

About this product

SAPHIR 560 with RUBIN 520 is a twin-wheel metallographic grinder-polisher with a motor-driven grinding and polishing head — two independent working wheels let you grind on one and polish on the other, preparing 1–6 mounted samples per run for reproducible, deformation-free surfaces ready for hardness testing and microscopy.

QATM SAPHIR 560 RUBIN 520 twin-wheel metallographic grinder-polisher — SAPHIR 560 twin-wheel grinder-polisher with the RUBIN 520 automatic preparation head

Why metallography labs choose the SAPHIR 560

Two wheels double the prep chain in one footprint — and the RUBIN 520 head takes operator variation out of every reading.

Twin working wheels

Two Ø 200–300 mm wheels driven by 2× 0.75 kW motors — grind on one, polish on the other without swapping discs, so throughput roughly doubles versus a single-wheel bench.

Single and central pressure

Single force 5–100 N per sample, or central force through the holder — mix diameters and materials in one run without re-clamping.

Automatic removal measurement

Set a target removal; the machine measures material removed automatically to 0.01 mm and switches off when the preset value is reached.

Touch control, memory, safety

Programmable methods on a touch display with password protection per program. Preparation starts only with the front cover extended; the basin is LED-lit.

How Additive Plus supplies the SAPHIR 560

A grinder-polisher is only as good as the method behind it — we set both up together.

Step 01

Configure to your lab

Working-wheel diameter (Ø 200–300 mm), sample-holder set, and RUBIN 520 head matched to your throughput and material mix.

Step 02

Install and train

Delivered, levelled and connected to water; your operators are trained on force, speed and removal settings so results are repeatable from day one.

Step 03

Validated methods and consumables

We hand over saved preparation programs plus matched discs, cloths and suspensions — reorder without re-developing the method.

Grinding and polishing performance

Two independent working wheels run at 50–600 rpm while the RUBIN 520 head applies individual pressure to each sample at 30–150 rpm with clockwise/counter-clockwise rotation, so specimens of different diameter and material reach the same surface in a single run. The head carries a memory function for side and height setting and a quick-change function for sample holders. Integrated basin rinsing cools the working wheels and cleans the basin throughout the cycle. See the full specifications tab below for connection power, drive ratings and dimensions.

QATM SAPHIR 560 twin working wheels and RUBIN 520 head detail — Motorised RUBIN 520 head with quick-change sample holders over twin Ø 200–300 mm working wheels

Typical applications

Wherever a defensible hardness reading or micrograph starts with a clean, flat, deformation-free surface — at higher throughput.

Metallography QA labs

Routine microstructure and grain-size prep

Failure analysis

Cross-sections of cracks, welds and fractures

Additive manufacturing

Porosity and melt-pool prep on printed coupons

Weld and coating inspection

Case-depth and layer measurement prep

Incoming inspection

Batch acceptance and heat-treat verification

R&D and universities

Materials teaching and research prep

QATM SAPHIR 560 RUBIN 520 twin-wheel grinder-polisher dimensions drawing — SAPHIR 560 footprint: 1020 × 550–650 × 660 mm (40.16 × 21.65–25.59 × 25.98 in), ~110 kg

Not sure the SAPHIR 560 is the right size?

Compare the twin-wheel SAPHIR 560 against single-wheel and programmable grinder-polishers in the QATM line.

Single wheelSAPHIR 550 / RUBIN 520Single-wheel version of the same platform — smaller footprint for lower throughput.View machine →
ProgrammableQPOL 300 A1-ECOSingle-wheel Ø 250/300 mm automatic grinder-polisher with 200 stored methods.View machine →
Large formatQPOL XLØ 300/350 mm wheels and 750 N central force for large or high-volume samples.View machine →

Tell us your sample mix and throughput — a materialography engineer will match the wheel size, holders and RUBIN 520 head configuration, and hand over validated preparation methods so results are repeatable. Sub-4h reply, NDA standard.

Why source the SAPHIR 560 through Additive Plus

QATM grinder-polishers configured, installed and trained by engineers who run metallographic prep in-house
Matched consumables — discs, cloths, suspensions — supplied and reorderable without re-qualifying the method
Full prep-to-test chain from one partner: sectioning, mounting, grinding/polishing, etching, hardness testing and imaging
Leasing and financing available for capital lab equipment · <24h response · 200+ systems delivered across 23 countries

Brand	QATM
Working wheels	ø 200 - 300 mm (twin)
No. of samples (single pressure)	1-6 samples ø 50 mm
Single pressing force	variable, 5-100 N
Central pressing force	depending on holder
Connection power	5.5 kVA
Drive power (grinder)	2x 0.75 kW S6/40%
Drive power (head)	0.17 kW (S1)
Speed (grinder)	50 – 600 rpm
Speed (head)	30 – 150 rpm
W x H x D	1020 x 550 - 650 x 660 mm / 40.16 x 21.65-25.59 x 25.98 in
Weight	~ 110 kg
Water connection	1x fresh water connection R½" max. 6 bars

SAPHIR 550 / 560 – Grinding & Polishing Brochure (PDF)

pdf · 373 KB

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QATM Materialography & Hardness Testing – Product Overview (PDF)

pdf · 5343 KB

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Common questions

Don't see yours? Email [email protected] — NDA standard, typical reply within 4 hours.

How is the SAPHIR 560 different from the single-wheel SAPHIR 550?

The SAPHIR 560 is the twin-wheel version. Two independent Ø 200–300 mm working wheels on separate 0.75 kW drives let you keep a grinding wheel and a polishing wheel set up at the same time, so you don't swap discs between steps — roughly doubling preparation throughput in one footprint (1020 mm wide, ~110 kg). The single-wheel SAPHIR 550 shares the same RUBIN 520 head in a smaller footprint.

How many samples can the SAPHIR 560 prepare at once?

The SAPHIR 560 with the RUBIN 520 head prepares 1–6 mounted samples up to Ø 50 mm in a single run. With single pressure each specimen sees its own force (5–100 N), so samples of different diameter and material reach the same surface together; central pressure drives the whole holder, depending on the holder used. Quick-change holders let you swap sample sets without re-clamping.

What is the difference between single and central pressure on the RUBIN 520 head?

Single pressure applies an individual force of 5–100 N to each sample, ideal for mixed diameters and materials in one holder. Central pressure applies force through the centre of the holder for uniform, higher-force preparation of matched samples, depending on the holder used. The SAPHIR 560 lets you choose either mode per method and store it for repeatable results.

How accurate is the automatic material-removal measurement?

You can preset a target removal on the SAPHIR 560 to 0.01 mm. The RUBIN 520 head measures material removed automatically during the cycle and switches the machine off when the preset value is reached, so grinding depth is consistent from sample to sample and operator to operator — important for case-depth and coating-layer measurements.

Can the SAPHIR 560 prepare additively manufactured metal coupons?

Yes. The SAPHIR 560 is used across metallography QA, failure analysis and additive manufacturing. Controlled single or central force and automatic removal measurement give the flat, deformation-free surfaces needed to assess porosity, melt-pool structure and layer defects on printed metal coupons before hardness testing or microscopy.

What power and water supply does the SAPHIR 560 need?

The SAPHIR 560 needs a 5.5 kVA supply for its twin 0.75 kW wheel drives and a fresh-water connection (R½", max 6 bar) for integrated basin rinsing, plus standard Ø 200–300 mm discs, polishing cloths and suspensions. Additive Plus supplies matched consumable sets and saved methods so you can reorder without re-qualifying the preparation.

What is the lead time and is installation included?

The SAPHIR 560 / RUBIN 520 is configured to order with a typical lead time of 4–8 weeks. Delivery includes installation, levelling, water connection and operator training on force, speed and removal settings so preparation is repeatable from day one. Leasing and financing are available for capital lab equipment.

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Order SAPHIR 560 / RUBIN 520 direct, or talk to materials engineer

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