Cupping Tester

PCE-CPT 20 - PCE Instruments

PCE-CPT 20 is a cupping tester, or coating flexibility tester, used for testing the adhesion, elongation and deformability of paints, lacquers, varnishes, powder coatings and other surface coatings on metal sheets. Used in manufacturing production, paint shop and quality control applications, the PCE-CPT 20 cupping tester aids in determining coating strength, durability and elasticity. A mandatory test in Qualicoat and QIB accredited quality control laboratories, a cupping test, also referred to as an Erichsen test or dent test, uses a spherical punch to deform a sample. This deformation results in a cup-like bulge. When using the PCE-CPT 20 to perform a cupping test in accordance with the ISO 1520 standard, the sample should be placed coating side up so that the 20 mm spherical punch presses against the uncoated underside of the metal sheet. The cupping test is terminated when small cracks and/or detachments are observed on the bulged part of the sample. The PCE-CPT 20 cupping tester's easy-to-read display shows the bulge deformation distances that can be used to determine the coating's flexibility rating.