Abstract
We have developed a novel uniaxial testing machine for testing small samples in the load range 25 μN – 1.5 N and specimen size/displacement range μm - mm, which are typically encountered in microtensile testing of free standing thin films and foils, micro-beam bending, and ultramicro-indentation. The machine is based on the use of compound flexures (in an integrated frame) as precision guides for actuation and as linear springs for force measurement. Results are presented from tests in different regimes of the machine’s force and displacement ranges to demonstrate its capabilities. The tests include (a) micro-tensile tests on free-standing gold thin films, rolled copper foils and elastomeric fibers, and (b) micro-indentation tests on aluminum samples. The machine yields consistent high quality data at a very high resolution.
