Mechanical Testing
Accessories
CellScale’s mechanical testing accessories help you configure a test around what you need to measure, not just what you can load. From testing grips and fixtures that stabilize delicate tissues to imaging and DIC accessories for quantitative strain, these upgrades improve repeatability, extend force range, and reduce setup variability across UniVert, MicroTester, and BioTester workflows.
If you are comparing platforms first, start at Mechanical Testers. If you already know the protocol, jump to Testing Methods to align accessories with your measurement goals.
Find the Right Accessory
To know what accessories you need, answer these questions: How small are your forces, how will you mount the specimen, how will you measure strain, and do you need spatial mapping. Use the links below to route directly to the accessory page that matches your workflow.
Accessories:
- BioRakes: multi-point mounting for soft materials on the BioTester and UniVert
- Eclipse: ultra-low force sensor for the UniVert
- Load Cells: interchangeable force sensors for the UniVert and BioTester
- Microbeams: force transducer wires for the MicroTester
- Scientific Imaging System: quantitative image-based strain mapping and DIC
- XY Stage: automated mechanical mapping on the UniVert
Low-Force Testing Accessories
Low-force testing accessories are intended for specimens where peak loads are small and subtle changes in mechanics matter. In these cases, the limiting factor is usually the force sensor. Choosing the right force transducer and configuration improves resolution, reduces noise at low loads, and protects delicate specimens during setup.
Eclipse Ultra-Low
Force Sensor
The Eclipse is an ultra-low force sensor accessory for the UniVert that supports low-load tensile and compression workflows while providing substantial overload protection. It is a practical choice when your protocol needs stable, high-sensitivity force measurement without sacrificing day-to-day usability.
Interchangeable
Load Cells
Load cells are calibrated force sensors, often called force transducers, that convert applied force into a measurement signal. In biomaterials and tissue mechanics, load cell selection is one of the most important steps for data quality. A capacity that is too large can reduce usable resolution at low loads, while an undersized capacity increases overload risk and may limit fixture options.
Microbeams for
Microforce Measurement
Microbeams are replaceable microforce transducer elements used with our MicroTester systems. They are selected by force capacity to keep measurements in a stable, sensitive region of the instrument. For many micro-scale specimens, microbeam choice is the difference between seeing real mechanics and seeing measurement noise.
Imaging and DIC Accessories
Imaging and digital image correlation (DIC) accessories support situations where actuator displacement is not a reliable proxy for specimen strain. This is common when you suspect grip slip, strain localization, nonuniform deformation, or when you want strain-controlled testing based on measured deformation rather than commanded motion.
- Scientific Imaging System
Mapping and Positioning Accessories
Many biomaterials are spatially heterogeneous. A single-point compression or indentation result (for example) can miss gradients, regional variations, or features that matter for structure-function interpretation. Mapping and positioning accessories address this by making location-specific testing routine and repeatable.
- UniVert XY Stage for Mechanical Property Mapping
Testing Grips and Fixtures
Testing grips and fixtures often determine whether a dataset is interpretable, especially for compliant biomaterials and soft tissues that can slip, tear, or preload during handling. Mechanical testing accessories in this category focus on repeatable specimen attachment, alignment, and consistent boundary conditions so that your force and strain results reflect the sample, not the setup.
- BioRakes for Soft Tissue Mounting
Accessories by Instrument
If you already know which platform you are using, start here.
UniVert Accessories
- Eclipse for ultra-low force testing accessories
- Load Cells to match force range and resolution
- Scientific Imaging System for image-based strain and strain mapping
- XY Stage for stiffness mapping and indentation mapping
MicroTester Accessories
- Microbeams for microforce measurement
- Secondary Scientific Imaging System for improved specimen visibility, alignment, and image-based analysis from an additional viewpoint
BioTester Accessories
- BioRakes for repeatable soft tissue mounting
- Load Cells for axis-appropriate force measurement
- Scientific Imaging System for measured strain and strain mapping during tissue tests
FAQs
What are your mechanical testing accessories?
Our mechanical testing accessories are add-ons (or replacements) that extend how an instrument measures force, strain, and environment. They typically improve repeatability, expand force range, enable imaging-based strain measurement, or simplify specialized workflows like property mapping.
How do I choose a load cell capacity for biomaterials testing?
Use the smallest capacity that still covers peak force with margin. You don’t want to run tests right at the bottom of the force range (which is why we have many load cell options).
What is the difference between a load cell, force sensor, and force transducer?
We use the terms interchangeably. A load cell is a calibrated force sensor, also called a force transducer, that converts applied force into a measurement signal the instrument records continuously during a test.
When do I need an ultra-low force sensor like Eclipse?
Use an ultra-low force sensor when peak loads are small (from 0.02 N to 0.5 N) and you want higher sensitivity than standard load cells typically provide, especially when the toe region, early stiffness, or low-load time-dependent behaviour is central to the study.
Do I need imaging for strain measurement?
If crosshead motion is a good proxy for specimen strain and your setup prevents slip, it may be sufficient. If strain localization, grip slip, nonuniform deformation, or strain-controlled testing matters, imaging and DIC accessories like our Scientific Imaging System provide direct measurement of deformation.
What is mechanical property mapping and when is an XY Stage useful?
Mechanical property mapping is a grid-based approach where you test multiple locations across a sample to capture spatial heterogeneity. Our XY Stage is useful for the UniVert when you need repeatable positioning, higher throughput indentation mapping, or location-tagged datasets (in wellplate format, for example).
Talk to Our Team
Tell us the specimen, expected forces, hydration/temperature requirements, and your planned outputs (stress-strain, creep, stress relaxation, strain mapping, stiffness mapping, etc.). We will recommend mechanical testing accessories that fit.
