A programmable pellet press for compressing a powdered sample and forming a sample disc, including a hydraulic mechanism for compressing the sample in a mold operatively and electrically connected to a control mechanism for commanding an
exertion of low constant preloading pressure followed by pressure increases with
constant pressure dwell times upon the hydraulic mechanism. An
algorithm for a programmable pellet press on computer readable media including performing a pressurization
subroutine, performing a proportional-integral-derivative (PID)
feedback loop, performing a depressurization
subroutine, and performing an unloading
subroutine when pressure is at a
baseline level. A method of compressing a powdered sample into a sample disc by loading the powdered sample into a mold of a programmable pellet press, from a
baseline pressure, increasing
hydraulic pressure and maintaining a preloading pressure against the sample, performing pressure increases upon the sample, depressurizing the sample, and forming a sample disc. A sample disc formed.