SPEX SamplePrep ShatterBox 8550 User manual

8550 ShatterBox®
Automatic Ring Mill

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Thank you for having chosen the 8550 ShatterBox Ring Mill from SPEX SamplePrep.
To enjoy years of reliable, efficient and safe use of this instrument, please read this
manual thoroughly and keep it in a safe and handy place for future reference.
Should you have any question regarding the use, maintenance or repair of your
instrument, kindly contact SPEX SamplePrep directly for assistance (see page 51
for contact details).
© May 2021, SPEX SamplePrep. All rights reserved.

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Index
Index ...............................................................................................2
Introduction....................................................................................4
Historical background ............................................................................... 4
The 8550 ShatterBox................................................................................ 5
Accessories .............................................................................................. 7
Main features ........................................................................................... 7
Precautions .....................................................................................9
Installation....................................................................................10
Location................................................................................................. 10
Unpacking.............................................................................................. 11
Connection - electrical ............................................................................ 12
Connection –exhaust ............................................................................. 13
Leveling casters...................................................................................... 13
Setting up.............................................................................................. 14
Questions ?............................................................................................ 15
Choice of the grinding container..................................................16
Material.................................................................................................. 16
Size ....................................................................................................... 17
How the unit works ......................................................................19
Grinding methods................................................................................... 19
Door operation ....................................................................................... 19
Clamping the dish .................................................................................. 19
Grinding motion ..................................................................................... 19
Using the 8550 ShatterBox ..........................................................20
Operation of the safety door ................................................................... 20
The main running screen ........................................................................ 22
Loading a program ................................................................................. 24
During a grinding ................................................................................... 25
A general grinding .................................................................................. 26
Programming the 8550 ShatterBox (advanced).........................28
Unlocking the advanced mode ................................................................ 28
Managing grinding methods.................................................................... 29
Preparing a grinding program ................................................................. 29
Grinding steps........................................................................................ 30
Global parameters ........................................................................31
Options.................................................................................................. 31
Special parameters.......................................................................33
Accessing the Special parameters ........................................................... 33
Parameters description ........................................................................... 34
Dish calibration procedure....................................................................... 35

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Grinding troubleshooting .............................................................37
Unit does not turn on.............................................................................. 37
Unit does not run ................................................................................... 37
Door remains locked............................................................................... 37
Grinding container locked up, won’t grind ................................................ 37
Excessive vibration, unit “walks” ............................................................. 38
Periodic inspection .......................................................................39
Warning................................................................................................. 39
Inspection schedule table........................................................................ 39
Service operations ........................................................................40
Warning................................................................................................. 40
Top panel removal.................................................................................. 41
Front panel removal ............................................................................... 42
Door removal ......................................................................................... 43
Back panel removal ................................................................................ 46
Firmware and program transfers.................................................47
Preset programs..................................................................................... 47
Backup or restore by USB....................................................................... 47
Technical specifications................................................................49
Warranty .......................................................................................50
Product changes..................................................................................... 50
Return shipments ................................................................................... 50
Contacting SPEX ...........................................................................51

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Introduction
Congratulations on your acquisition of the 8550 ShatterBox, from SPEX
SamplePrep.
This section intends to introduce the reader to basic grinding principles and to
familiarize him or her to the 8550 ShatterBox.
Historical
background
Since its introduction in the 1980’s, the SPEX SamplePrep ShatterBox has become
the most popular “swing mill” in America. Now as then, it remains the most efficient
way to pulverize up to 100ml in volume (or 100g in weight) of brittle material to
analytical fineness. The unit has many advanced features, including a touchscreen
with programmable timer, an automated clamp, a safety-interlocking automated
door, and horizontal grinding container insertion/removal.

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The 8550
ShatterBox
General view
Working principle
The 8550 ShatterBox swings a dish-shaped grinding container, with a puck and
(often) a ring inside, in a tight high-speed circle; the sample is quickly crushed
between the wall and floor of the container and the moving puck/ring grinding
elements. Smaller grinding containers and those made with ceramics have a puck-
shaped grinding element; larger containers add a ring. Most grinding containers
are fitted with a gasket to prevent sample loss during grinding.
Since grinding containers are chosen for specific tasks, there is no “standard” 8550
ShatterBox grinding container. In general, grinding times range from two to five
minutes, with resultant particle size well below 100µm, and in some cases 5µm.
Typical samples include cements, soils, ceramics, slag, rocks, and ores, but the
8550 ShatterBox has also ground sulfur pellets, dried marsh-grass,
pharmaceuticals, and many other materials. To maximize grinding capability and
Emergency
stop button
Safety door
Door handle
LCD screen
interface
Front caster
wheel
Rear wheel
Door lock
override
Grinding dish

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minimize contamination, grinding containers are available in hardened steel,
tungsten carbide, alumina ceramic, and zirconia ceramic. The full range of 8550
ShatterBox grinding containers is described in detail in the SPEX Handbook of
Sample Preparation and Handling, the SPEX ShatterBox Accessories Manual and on
our website: www.spexsampleprep.com
Automated dish holder
Unlike some other units, this mill provides a simple and efficient system to
automatically retain (or “clamp”) the dish. When the user has slid the dish in its
recess, closed the safety door and pressed Start, a motorized system applies a
downward pressure onto the dish lid, thus ensuring that the lid is secured in place,
as well as the base of the dish itself.
Dish lid
Dish
Clamping
motor

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Accessories
The 8550 ShatterBox requires the use of a dish with a handle assembly. For existing
dishes without handle assembly, the corresponding handle assembly may be
purchased separately and secured to the dish.
Available Grinding Dishes:
Dish and
handle
assembly
(Required
for 8550)
Dish (grinding container)
description
Dish part
number
(For 8530
ShatterBox)
Handle part
number
(May be
purchased for
existing dish)
8501-H
Hardened Steel
8501
8511-01
8504-H
Tungsten Carbide
8504
8511-04
8505-H
Alumina Ceramic
8505
8511-05
8506-H
Zirconia
8506
N/A
Small Hardened Steel
8507
8507R (rack)
Small Tungsten Carbide
8508
8521-H
Large Hardened Steel
8521
8511-21
NOTE: In practice, the sample capacity of any particular grinding container
depends on the properties of the sample, particle-size requirements, and other
considerations.
Main features
Accuracy
•Entirely automated
•Electronically controlled, fully reproducible grinding methods
Safety
•Integrated dual-locking safety door with glass viewport
•Redundant dish position sensing
•Real-time monitoring of clamping force
•Dual monitoring of the grinding motor speed
•Sound-insulated steel cabinet
•Lockable caster wheels
Versatility
•Stores up to 10 different grinding programs
•Fully customizable grinding methods
•USB connectivity
•Ethernet (wired network) port
•Accepts various grinding dish types

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Productivity
•Automated door opening after a grinding operation
•Automated dish clamping
Durability
•Sturdy industrial-grade modular electronics
•Robust IP65 rated industrial interface
•Dedicated PLC-based programming
•Low-maintenance
Simplicity
•Easy installation, easy use
•Single-phase power, no separate power supply
•Intuitive touch-screen color LCD graphics interface
•Easy icon navigation
•Multilingual interface
•Easy component access
•USB-upgradeable firmware
•1-year limited warranty