Preparing Samples for Metallographic Examination
Not all of our projects come to us in small packages. How do we get that 7′ long, 6″ diameter steel tube or the 4′ diameter industrial fan under a microscope? Sample preparation often begins in our machine shop. The MEE shop is equipped with a variety of cut-off saws, a Bridgeport mill, plasma cutter, […]
Variable Pressure SEM vs Field Emission SEM
Two types of modern scanning electron microscopes provide the range of sampling handling and resolution needed for evaluating most samples – the variable pressure SEM (VPSEM) and the high-resolution field emission SEM (FESEM). At MEE, we offer SEM services with both types of microscopes to meet almost every challenge. The VPSEM is a workhorse for routine work, but magnification is not […]
Failure analysis case studies
Stress corrosion cracking in a chemical storage tank, hydrogen damage in a boiler tube, fatigue fracture in titanium sternal plates are just a few of the case studies on our website. They were specifically chosen to highlight the variety of projects we see in our laboratory and more importantly, demonstrate the thorough, analytical approach we take on all of […]
Broad-Beam Ion Milling
Senior Scientist, Dieter Scholz, spent a day at the SMTA (Surface Mount Technology Association) 2015 Midwest Expo talking with attendees about the advantages of the Broad-Beam Ion Milling. Ion Beam Milling provides an additional level of quality and clarity for critical and difficult-to-prepare samples. It is particularly useful for cross sections of semi-conductor devices, sectioning […]
MEE hosts Materials Science Camp
MEE, Inc is a long- time sponsor of the MN Chapter of ASM International Materials Science Camp for high school students. Thirty students got to spend a day in our laboratory learning about and using scanning electron microscopes, Rockwell hardness testers, microhardness testers and a variety of light microscopes. Three on our staff, Larry, Kurt and Neal, are also […]
Fire Investigations and Forensic Engineering
Larry Hanke had another opportunity this past month to talk about the role of metallurgical engineers in fire investigations at a full day seminar for fire investigators and insurance company representatives sponsored by Whitemore Fire Consultants. Attorneys and engineers presented talks on assembling teams and conducting origin and cause investigations. Larry’s talk focused on how an engineer with expertise […]
Materials and their reaction to fire
Principal Engineer, Larry Hanke, spoke at the spring seminar of the Wisconsin chapter of the International Association of Arson Investigators (IAAI) on materials analysis for fire investigations The purpose of the presentation was to describe and demonstrate what a metallurgical engineer can add to the investigation of a structural fire or explosion. His presentation included an overview of […]
MEE on Facebook
MEE, Inc. has been in business since 1995 and has captured tens of thousands of images using scanning electron microscopes and light microscopes. Our technical staff has long kept a file of “cool” images which we are sharing on our new Facebook page. Like our page and enjoy some interesting and unique images. […]
20 Year Anniversary Open House
MEE staff hosted a full day open house to celebrate 20 years in business. Open house visitors got a chance to meet and talk with staff, tour the laboratories, enjoy lunch at the Natedogs food cart and even compete in a bag toss game. If you would like to schedule a tour of the our […]
Doing Stand-up Work at MEE
If you have read the staff bios on our webpage, you will know that the staff at MEE is a physically active bunch. Bicycling, rock climbing, hiking and skiing are all mentioned as favorite activities. But, while in the office, researching and writing reports keep us in our chairs a good part of the day. […]