An instrument used to measure the viscosity and gel strength of drilling mud. Absolute viscosity is usually measured by a capillary-type instrument by determining the time a given volume takes to flow through a glass capillary.
A concentric cylinder viscometer uses two cylinders, an outer cylinder or rotor sleeve and an inner stationary cylinder. A fresh sample fills the cylinder up to a line, and the outer cylinder is rotated at 300 rpm and 600 rpm. The torque on the inner cylinder is measured with a precision torsion spring.