LECO AMH Series, Metallurgy & Heat Treatment Workshop

Experience a comprehensive and engaging hands-on workshop at LECO that connects the science of heat treatment with the practical skills needed to evaluate material performance. Using your own samples, you’ll explore how thermal processing shapes microstructure and hardness, then learn to capture those differences through proper metallographic preparation—from sectioning and mounting through grinding and polishing—to produce high-quality specimens ready for analysis.

Building on this foundation, our specialists will guide you through the full operation and programming of the AMH‑55 series microhardness testing system, including hardness mapping, automated workflows, data management, and custom report creation. Designed for metallurgists, heat treaters, quality professionals, and lab technicians, this workshop provides a complete, start-to-finish learning experience that enhances both your technical understanding and your practical skills. You’ll leave with deeper insight into processing–property relationships and the confidence to execute precise, repeatable microhardness testing in your own laboratory.

Register for the AMH Series, Metallurgy & Heat Treatment Workshop

Agenda

Tuesday, July 14

8:00 AM Event Start

8:30 AM - 9:00 AM Welcome, Introductions & Facility Overview

• Meet the LECO technical team
• Workshop overview, goals, and safety briefing

9:00 AM - 10:15 AM Heat Treatment Fundamentals

• Principles of heat treatment and thermal cycles
• Common processes: annealing, quenching, tempering, case hardening
• Microstructural evolution and phase transformations

10:15 AM - 10:30 AM Break

10:30 AM - 12:00 PM Understanding Material Behavior

• Linking heat treatment to mechanical performance
• Effects on hardness, strength, and wear
• Example microstructures and case studies

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch (Provided)

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Metallography Theory & Best Practices

• Why metallographic prep is critical to microhardness accuracy
• Abrasives, consumables, and preparation routes
• Avoiding artifacts: relief, scratches, pull out, deformation

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM Break

2:45 PM - 4:30 PM Sample Review & Workflow Planning (Using Your Materials)

• Customer samples evaluated by LECO specialists
• Customized preparation plan developed for each material
• Group discussion on challenges and expected outcomes

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Open Q&A & Day 1 Wrap Up

Wednesday, July 15 

8:00 AM - 9:30 AM Hands On Sectioning & Mounting

• Safe and effective sample sectioning
• Choosing mounting techniques (compression vs. cast)
• Practical session with your materials

9:30 AM - 9:45 AM Break

9:45 AM - 1:00 PM Grinding & Polishing Lab

• Step by step preparation with LECO specialists
• Optimizing surfaces for Knoop/Vickers microhardness
• Troubleshooting real time issues

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch (Provided)

1:00 PM - 2:00 PM Introduction to Microhardness Testing

• Indentation mechanics
• Vickers vs. Knoop
• Load selection, spacing rules, indentation visibility

3:30 PM - 3:45 PM Break

3:45 PM – 5:00 PM AMH 55 Basic Operation (Hands On)

• Executing simple test patterns
• Reviewing indentation quality
• Baseline reporting and result verification

Thursday, July 16

8:00 AM - 10:30 AM AMH 55 Advanced Programming

• Automated traverse creation
• Case depth studies and pattern building
• Multi sample and batch workflows

10:30 AM - 10:45 AM Break

10:45 AM - 12:00 PM Execution of Test Programs (Hands On)

• Running advanced patterns on your prepared samples
• Monitoring and adjusting indentation quality
• Practical troubleshooting with LECO specialists

12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Lunch (Provided)

1:00 PM - 2:30 PM Data Analysis & Custom Reporting

• Hardness profile interpretation
• Statistical tools and data exports
• Creating professional, customized reports
• Report templates and branding options

2:30 PM - 2:45 PM Break

2:45 PM - 3:00 PM Open Discussion, Q&A, and Individual Review

• Real world heat treatment applications
• Common microhardness testing pitfalls
• Workflow optimization for repeatability and speed

3:45 PM - 4:30 PM Open Discussion, Q&A, and Individual Review

• One on one sample review
• Recommendations for your in house workflows
• Guidance for future projects

4:30 PM - 5:00 PM Certificates & Closing Remarks

• Completion certificates awarded
• Final thank you and next steps

5:00 PM Event End

Instructors

• Steve Riley
• Matt Zyla

LOCATION

• RJW Customer Experience Center and Global Support Center
• Saint Joseph, MI