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Mechanical Testing - UniVert

UniVert is a benchtop series of uniaxial mechanical testing systems for tension, compression, and mechanical characterization of biomaterials and soft materials.

The UniVert S is used as a medium- to low-force mechanical testing system when delicate specimens require high resolution and careful overload protection. UniVert S provides a compact and configurable uniaxial mechanical testing system with a setup that can be built around specimen compliance and testing method requirements. It is commonly used with soft tissues (i.e., cardiac, muscle, connective, pleural), gels (like hydrogels and elastomers), scaffold materials, thin films (or membranes), and compliant polymers.

The UniVert 1kN has a higher load capacity compared to the UniVert S, while keeping the same fixtures, accessories, imaging options, and environmental configurations. It’s unique as a benchtop mechanical tester still capable of higher-load protocols. Common applications include engineered constructs, device-oriented studies (i.e., medical devices, bioelectronics, soft robotics), and stiffer materials (like adhesives, sealants, and thin metals) that push a low-capacity setup toward its limits.

UniVert Data Sheet

UniVert Selection Catalogue

 

The UniVert series of test systems is optimized for materials that require a low-force mechanical testing system with high sensitivity, unlike most conventional mechanical testers. Soft, hydrated, anisotropic, slippery, and irregularly shaped materials demand careful mounting, appropriate measurement sensitivity, and test workflows that can separate true specimen response from fixture artifacts.

From tensile and compression testing of biomaterials to multi-phase conditioning, time-dependent protocols, auxiliary axes, and strain-controlled mechanical testing using imaging-based workflows, the UniVert uniaxial mechanical testing system adapts to your specimens and methods rather than forcing you into a single test configuration.

• Versatile benchtop mechanical tester
• Built for samples conventional testing systems struggle with
• Uniaxial mechanical testing of soft materials, tissues, and engineered constructs
• Ultra-low to high-force sensitivity with interchangeable load cells
• Imaging-ready workflows coupled with hydrated and temperature-controlled testing
• Modular and custom upgrades with multi-axis options available for shear, torsion, or pressure testing

The UniVert force range from 0.02 N when used with the Eclipse Ultra Low Force Sensor accessory, up to 1000 N with the UniVert 1kN model. Choose based on your expected peak load and the low-force resolution you need. ick the UniVert S if you are mostly in soft-tissue or hydrogel territory and you want the best sensitivity at low loads. Pick the UniVert 1kN if your samples or fixtures drive the loads higher, or if you are testing stiffer materials and device-style assemblies. The workflow stays familiar, but the 1kN frame gives you more headroom.

The UniVert supports:

• Tension and compression testing
• Bending / flexural testing (fixture dependent)
• Shear testing (fixture dependent)
• Torsion testing (fixture dependent)
• Pressure testing (fixture dependent)
• Creep and stress relaxation testing
• Cyclic loading for preconditioning and repeatability checks
• Puncture and peel testing (fixture dependent)

Specifications

	UniVert S (S2)	UniVert 1kN
Dimensions (cm)	22 x 22 x 54	30 x 22 x 60
Weight (kg)	8	20
Force Capacity (N)	200	1,000
Load Cells (N)	0.02-200	0.02-1000
Force Accuracy	0.2% of load cell capacity	0.2% of load cell capacity
Travel (mm)	300*	300*
Max Velocity (mm/s)	20 (100)	20
Max Acceleration (m/s2)	1 (2)	1
Max Cycle Frequency (Hz)	2 (10)	2
Max Data Rate (Hz)	100 (500)	100

*Longer stroke available on request

Applications

• Hydrogels, elastomers, scaffolds, and other compliant polymers
• Soft tissues including connective, vascular, pleural, nervous, and cartilaginous specimens
• ECM and decellularized matrices with non-uniform deformation
• 3D bioprinted structures and bioink-derived constructs
• Small orthopedic, dental, and biomedical components requiring controlled uniaxial or multi-axial loading
• Small, soft samples for general-purpose materials mechanics testing

Featured Accessories

Environmental Control: Hydrated Mechanical Testing

UniVert supports hydrated mechanical testing through optional temperature-controlled media bath configurations. These setups are compatible with tensile, compression, and time-dependent testing protocols.

UniVert media baths enable hydrated and temperature-controlled mechanical testing by surrounding the specimen in a controlled fluid environment during testing. There are two media bath orientations: vertical and horizontal, each with different fluid capacity options, depending on the UniVert model.

UV-200-22 UniVert connector and software upgrade required for addition of a temperature controlled fluid bath   UV-200-11 UniVert horizontal temperature controlled fluid bath The Horizontal Media Bath is a compact, pivoting bath designed for efficient immersion and removal of specimens during testing. It has up to 500 mL capacity with temperature control up to 40°C, and supports load cells up to 200 N for tension, compression, and other fixtures on the UniVert S and UniVert 1kN.   UV-200-12 UniVert vertical temperature controlled fluid bath The Vertical Media Bath is a high-capacity option for larger specimens, with 600 mL capacity (UniVert S and 1kN compatible) or 1000 mL capacity (UniVert 1kN only). It provides temperature control up to 40°C, supports load cells up to 200 N (or up to 1000 N on the UniVert 1kN), and includes a raise/lower function plus an integrated drain tube for easier handling.

Multiple Axis Testing Upgrade

Shear, twist, and pressure axes can be added to the primary linear test axis to test a wide range of specimens. These actuators and sensors integrate seamlessly with the device controller, software and data output.

For UniVert S (UV-200-02)

To order select the UV-200-03 UniVert+ 3 axis capable upgrade and the axes required

UV-200-03	UniVert universal uniaxial mechanical tester three-axis capable upgrade (requires factory fitting)
UV-200-30S	Shear axis upgrade to the UniVert mechanical test system, includes 1 additional 3-axis load cell (requires factory fitting and UV-200-03)
UV-200-30T	Torsion axis upgrade to the UniVert mechanical test system, includes 1 additional tension/compression/torsion load cell (requires factory fitting and UV-200-03)
UV-200-30P	Pressure axis upgrade to the UniVert mechanical test system, includes 1 pressure sensor (requires factory fitting and UV-200-03)

 

For UniVert 1kN (UV-1000-02)

To order select the UV-1000-03 UniVert+ 3 axis capable upgrade and the axes required

UV-1000-03	UniVert 1kN - 3 axis capable upgrade (requires factory fitting)
UV-1000-30S	Shear axis upgrade to the UniVert 1kN mechanical test system, includes 1 additional 3-axis load cell (requires factory fitting and UV-1000-03)
UV-1000-30T	Torsion axis upgrade to the UniVert 1kN mechanical test system, includes 1 additional tension/compression/torsion load cell (requires factory fitting and UV-1000-03)
UV-1000-30P	Pressure axis upgrade to the UniVert 1kN mechanical test system, includes 1 pressure sensor (requires factory fitting and UV-1000-03)

 

High Performance Upgrade

To upgrade the UniVert S to the S2 high perfomance specification including 5X speed, cycle frequency, and data rate over the UniVert add part number UV-200-02H.

The upgrade improves

• Max Velocity from 20 mm/s to 100 mm/s
• Max Cycle Frequency from 2 Hz to 10 Hz
• Max Data Rate from 100 Hz to 500 Hz

UV-200-02H

UniVert S universal uniaxial mechanical tester S2 Performance Upgrade

 

Specimens & Mounting Options

 

Video

UniVert Mechanical Testing System Introduction and Demonstration

Mechanical Testing Data Review and Analysis Software Demonstration

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