The SpectroT2FM 500 Analytical Ferrography Laboratory is a complete analytical system for the separation and interpretation of wear and contaminant particles in used lubricant oils, hydraulic fluids, coolants and fuels. It consists of the T2FM Ferrogram maker, a bichromatic microscope, video camera and image capture software.

The SpectroT2FM 500 is fast because there is no delay time as sample is pumped through plastic tubing before reaching the ferrogram surface. The T2FM delivers the entire sample and all the particles contained therein onto the ferrogram surface. A crystal clear rinse is obtained without fail for every ferrogram. There are no last minute drips of oil sample onto the ferrogram leaving distracting halos around the particles when viewed under the microscope.

A bichromatic microscope is used to view and examine ferrograms made with the SpectroT2FM 500. The bichromatic microscope is equipped with both reflected (red) and transmitted (green) light sources so that the ferrogram may be illuminated from both above and below the microscope stage. With bichromatic illumination, metal particles, which reflect light, appear bright red, whereas nonmetallic particles appear green because light transmits through them.

A video camera connected to a computer displays, prints, stores and retrieves ferrographic images. Comparison of old ferrograms with ferrograms from recent lubricating oil samples allows determination of evolving wear modes inside a machine or engine.