Cost effective, precise cross sectioning
Your new cross-section service lab
At our service lab, we use state-of-the-art equipment and precision techniques to perform high-quality mechanical cross-sectioning on a wide range of electronic components, including PCBs, capacitors, ICs, and other packaged devices. Our team has years of experience in cross-sectioning and failure analysis support, and we are dedicated to providing the highest quality preparation and documentation for every sample we receive.
We offer a range of x-section services, including epoxy mounting, precision grinding and polishing, backside preparation, and optional etching, to ensure we meet your specific analysis requirements and deliver clear, detailed insights into internal structures and failure mechanisms. IPC compliance is a common request.
Unlike general FA service labs that offer a broad suite of failure analysis tools, we focus solely on one critical part of the process – mechanical cross-sectioning. This specialization allows us to dedicate our resources and expertise to becoming the most cost-effective and high-throughput cross-section lab, trusted by engineers and quality teams across industries.
Mechanical Cross Section
The failed component is selected and embedded in epoxy resin to secure it for precise grinding. The sample is carefully ground down using progressively finer abrasive media to expose the area of interest (e.g., solder joint, via, die attach
Polish & Etching
A mirror-like polish is applied to the surface to eliminate scratches and prepare it for high-resolution imaging. In metallic systems, chemical etchants may be used to reveal grain boundaries or interface layers
Imaging & Reporting
The polished cross section is inspected under an optical microscope. Defects are documented with high-resolution images and measurements. A detailed failure analysis report is created inline with standards like IPC
Industry Cross Sectioning Example
We are a specialty FA service lab focusing on mechanical cross sectioning, x-section services operating out of San Diego, CA.
ISO9001:20015 Certified Lab
To ensure quality process and security, we have certified our lab to ISO9001:20015 standards.
ITAR Registered
Our work with defense and government organizations requires us to be ITAR registered and compliant.