铁谱技术用以分离磨粒的装置。通过微量泵将一定容量的油样抽入胶管中，然后沿着一倾斜的玻璃铁谱片流进贮油杯，油样中的磨粒在玻璃片下的磁铁作用下，磨粒滞留在铁谱片上，沿流动方向从大到小分布，不同大小磨粒沿磁场方向呈链状排列。
A device for separating abrasive particles by ferrography. The oil sample of a certain capacity is pumped into the hose by a micropump, and then along an inclined glass Ferrograph into the oil cup. The abrasive particles in the oil sample are retained on the ferrography under the action of the magnets under the glass sheet. The particles are arranged along the flow direction from large to small, and the abrasive particles are arranged in chain along the direction of the magnetic field.
现代分离和分析磨粒的仪器有直读式铁谱仪、分析式铁谱仪和在线式铁谱仪三种。
Modern instruments for separating and analyzing abrasive grains include three kinds: direct reading Ferrograph, analytical Ferrograph and online Ferrograph.
直读式铁谱仪主要用来直接检测油样中磨粒的浓度及尺寸分布，仅能作磨粒的定量分析。其优点是结构较简单，能快速测定，适合于现场使用。分析式铁谱仪主要用来制备铁谱片，以供对磨粒进行定性观测和定量分析。其优点是可以精细、准确地考察铁谱片上各种磨粒的类型、形态、成分以至微量元素。在线式铁谱仪则直接与被监控的系统相接，无需采集油样就能对设备进行监控。其优点不仅是方便，而且具有监控的连续性和适时性，因此在固定式机械设备和机械加工流水线上很适用。
Direct reading ferrography is mainly used to directly detect the concentration and size distribution of abrasive particles in oil samples, and can only be used for quantitative analysis of abrasive particles. Its advantages are simple structure, quick determination and suitable for field use. The analytical Ferrograph is mainly used to prepare ferrography sheets for qualitative observation and quantitative analysis of abrasive particles. The advantage is that it can precisely and accurately inspect the types, forms, components and even trace elements of various kinds of abrasives on Ferrography. On line ferrography is directly connected to the monitored system, and it can be monitored without collecting oil samples. Its advantages are not only convenience, but also continuity and timeliness of monitoring. Therefore, it is very suitable for fixed mechanical equipment and machining line.