Leco Corporation PX500 Metallurgical Technology
The Process
Discover
The PX500 project marked another step in design team’s commitment to bringing sleek usability and functionality into the often-overlooked world of industrial devices. The client approached us to create a rugged, durable solution for a high-performance, application-specific product. Although the product details remain confidential, the goal was clear: deliver a professional-grade unit that was intuitive to use, easy to manufacture, and reliable in extreme-use environments.
This project was born out of the client's desire to modernize their industrial offerings and bring a more thoughtful design to an otherwise utilitarian category. The challenge was not just to update the appearance, but to rethink how the product engaged the user—without increasing production costs or introducing complexity.
Design
Working closely with the client’s engineers and product team, Cruver Design established a set of design criteria to guide development:
Ensure field serviceability with minimal training
Integrate function and form without compromising ruggedness
Use existing manufacturing methods where possible
Introduce recognizable controls and intuitive user touchpoints
Due to the nature of the device and limited access to ongoing user feedback, the team emphasized upfront clarity: every interaction, from handling to operation, had to be self-evident. Simplicity in use and clarity in purpose became key design pillars.
Deliver
We delivered a product that felt equally at home in high-tech industrial spaces and rugged operational environments. An important distinction was that this was one of the first products that LECO had considered incorporating a touch screen into. This was a big step for them as past products utilized physical buttons. They wanted our design team to rethink how end users interacted with the product. The result, was exterior features engineered to be robust and tamper-resistant while offering the user a simple to use touch screen interface.
Material selection and interface layout were driven by both visual and tactile usability. Elements like the housing geometry, button placement, and indicators were fine-tuned to support both gloved and bare-hand operation, across various lighting conditions.
To improve manufacturability, the enclosure was optimized for rapid assembly and reduced part count. Visual language and branding opportunities were also integrated without detracting from the device’s performance and durability.
Leco Corporation PX500 Metallurgical Technology
The PX500 is a next-generation metallographic grinder/polisher designed to deliver exceptionally flat specimens with unmatched ease-of-use. Featuring a responsive multi-touch display, intuitive LED lighting, automatic wash system, and ergonomic loading, the PX500 streamlines sample preparation for busy labs. Powered by energy-efficient AC drives and induction motors, it ensures smooth, customizable operation across a range of materials.
Key Design Features:
Compact, rugged housing optimized for durability and comfort
Tamper-resistant interface layout suitable for industrial use
Simplified part construction for lower manufacturing costs
Tactile controls designed for usability with or without gloves
Apply established design language throughout their products
Result:
While feedback from the end market has been limited—as is often the case with B2B industrial solutions—10 years since its introduction the PX500 remains in the client’s product offering and is still viable. That longevity stands as a testament to the thoughtful engineering and timeless industrial design brought to life by our team.
