TQC Cupping Testers are designed and produced to perform a cupping (Erichsen / Dent) test on coated steel panels to define the resistance of paint, varnish or related products to cracking and/or detachment from a metal substrate when subjected to gradual deformation by indentation under standard conditions.
The test is either used as a “pass / fail” test by testing to a specified depth or defining the minimum depth at which a coating fails by gradually increasing the indentation.
The ISO1520 standard requires panels to be slowly deformed at a steady rate between 0,1 mm/s and 0,3 mm/s without interruption. Especially with thicker steel panels hand-operated testers not always allow an uninterrupted deformation.
The TQC Automatic Cupping Tester is driven by a micro-step controlled electro motor which allows precise and steady deformation with 0,01 mm steps. Operation is intuitive by means of a jog-dial switch and a multi-lingual operating menu on a large illuminated display.
An integrated LED powered sample illumination system comforts examining the coating under test. To guarantee maximum visibility of all possible types of surface including high gloss, matte or colored samples the angle of the LED light can be set. Choose light from just one or all directions. The strength of the LED’s is adjustable but also the colors can be changed to achieve maximum contrast.
For limited budgets TQC also have a manual cupping tester. The built in gear-box of the TQC Manual Cupping Tester minimizes the manual force which is required to deform the test panel, allowing to perform a smooth deformation. The degree or deformation is digitally displayed at a resolution of 0.01 mm.
Cupping Test is a mandatory test in Qualicoat, QIB and GSB accredited laboratories.