A new instrument has been developed for measuring stresses due to particle quenching, temperature gradients during spraying, temperature fluctuations during coating formation and expansion mismatch between coating and substrate upon cooling. It records in situ and continuously the curvature of a substrate during spraying and upon cooling after spraying with a contacting displacement sensor. The substrate is fixed onto a pair of knife edges by springs. The knife edges are disposed on a water-cooled rotating cylindrical substrate holder and the substrate (2*15*100 mm 3 ) is parallel to the holder axis. The torch is moved back and forth parallel to the holder axis and the substrate temperature is recorded by a thermocouple spot welded to it. Examples of results with alumina coatings on steel substrates are presented.