Coating friction, tack, wear, and chemical resistance measurements can be performed on coatings applied to glass and metal substrates using this Symyx Tools bench top system. The essential element of this tool is a disposable steel sphere fitted to a dual axis force transducer mounted to the end of an XYZ robotic arm. The spherical probe, selected from more than 100 loaded on the deck, is then brought into contact with the coating at a specified force and moved back and forth or up and down depending on the measurement being made.