UniVert XY Stage
The UniVert XY Stage is an add-on for the UniVert series that automates X-Y positioning for multi-point tests. It is used for mechanical property mapping, including stiffness mapping and indentation mapping, where you need consistent spacing, consistent contact conditions, and repeatable positioning across a surface.
Compatible with: UniVert S, UniVert 1kN
When to choose the UniVert XY Stage: When you want location-controlled testing across many points for mapping, gradients, or multi-region comparisons.
At a Glance
Automated X-Y positioning for mechanical property mapping across a specimen surface
Well-plate footprint support for plate-style layouts and screening routines
Supports stiffness mapping workflows that depend on repeatable point-to-point spacing
Enables high throughput mechanical testing by running many locations with minimal manual repositioning
Integrates into UniVert workflows so force sensing, fixtures, and reporting stay consistent while X-Y motion is automated
What The UniVert XY Stage Is For
Single-point tests can miss what matters in heterogeneous samples: local stiffness changes, gradients from processing, regional tissue variability, or patterned substrates. The UniVert XY Stage turns a single-point uniaxial tester into a location-aware workflow so you can build maps rather than isolated measurements.
Common reasons labs add the XY Stage:
- Run indentation mapping or compression mapping in a defined grid to capture local variability
- Mapping or mechanically testing casted hydrogels in well-plates
- Quantify gradients (edge-to-center, left-to-right, printed pattern regions) with consistent spacing
- Increase throughput by removing manual repositioning steps during high throughput mechanical testing
What’s Included
The UniVert XY Stage is supplied as an upgrade that adds automated X-Y motion and software control to your UniVert platform.
Includes:
- UniVert XY Stage hardware (motorized X-Y table)
- Positioning and mapping software for automated multi-location testing
- Well-plate footprint support for workflows that benefit from plate-based layouts
Typical Workflows
The XY Stage is most often used when the test method is stable and the question is spatial. The same protocol is repeated across many locations, then results are plotted as a map or compared by region.
Typical workflows include:
Stiffness mapping across a defined X-Y grid (indentation mapping for spatial comparisons)
Grids for mechanical property mapping of soft samples, including patterned hydrogels and crosslink gradients
Viscoelastic & Time-Dependent Testing
Maps that add short holds at each point to capture time effects before moving to the next location
Point-by-point routines, using a fixed deformation and a hold to compare relaxation behaviour by region
Hydrated and Temperature Controlled Testing
Mapping runs in a bath when hydration and temperature stability matter across a long sequence
Digital Image Correlation (DIC)
Image-based tracking paired with location-tagged datasets to verify deformation and reduce alignment uncertainty
Instrument Compatibility
Works with: UniVert S and UniVert 1kN
For labs that test both delicate and stiffer specimens, the UniVert can cover a wide range of loads with the appropriate sensing, while the XY Stage adds automated positioning for mapping and screening. This makes it easier to keep one workflow for setup, acquisition, and reporting while changing only the sensing range and test location plan.
Specifications
| Max load capacity | 200 N |
| Stage speed | 10 mm/s |
| X-Y travel | 100 mm x 150 mm |
| Position accuracy | ± 50 µm |
| Position repeatability | ± 5 µm |
| Position resolution | 1 µm |
| Operating temperature | 5–40 °C |
Research Applications Supported
The UniVert XY Stage is most useful in studies where mechanics vary by location, enabling mechanical property mapping, stiffness mapping, and indentation mapping across many points in a single session.
FAQs
What does the UniVert XY Stage add to a UniVert system?
It adds automated X-Y positioning so the UniVert can run multi-location tests without manual repositioning.
What is mechanical property mapping in this context?
Mechanical property mapping is repeating the same test at defined X-Y locations to capture spatial variation, such as local stiffness differences or gradients.
Is the XY Stage useful for indentation mapping?
Yes. Indentation mapping is one of the most common uses, especially when you want consistent point spacing and repeatable positioning across a grid.
Can the XY Stage support high throughput mechanical testing?
Yes. Automated positioning reduces hands-on steps, which makes it practical to run many locations in one session and compare results across regions or samples.
Is it only for well plates?
No. The well-plate footprint is helpful for plate-style routines, but the travel range is also used for larger planar samples and mapping across a single specimen.
