The two primary reasons for mounting are ease of handling and edge retention. Edge retention is the preservation of the edge of the specimen and is crucial if you are evaluating the surface for structural integrity. Ease of handling comes into play both for manual polishing as well as placing the mounts in to an automated polisher. When deciding on which mounting technique to use consider the size and geometry of your part, the part’s susceptibility to heat and pressue, the number of samples that must be prepped and the time you have to achieve the task.