A method of confirming stability of a control system for a materials testing system the method comprising: determining specified filter parameters (406, 408, 410) for the control system by: generating a random noise signal; applying a low-pass filter to the random noise signal to produce a first filtered signal; applying a high-pass filter to the first filtered signal to produce a second filtered signal; superimposing the second filtered signal on a sinusoidal waveform to produce a reference test waveform; applying the reference test waveform to a system under test; measuring the output of the system under test; determining a transfer function of the system under test; and convolving the transfer function with the filters of the control system to produce the filter parameters; operating the control system in a closed-loop configuration and inputting to the control system a stability test signal having a predetermined waveform; automatically monitoring the output of the materials testing system; setting a maximum and minimum threshold value for the feedback channel of the closed-loop control system; automatically comparing the output to the threshold values; if the output exceeds either threshold, preventing input to the control system of a command signal; and if the output does not exceed either threshold, permitting input to the control system of a command signal, wherein the stability test signal comprises an attenuated or low-frequency version of the command signal. determining specified filter parameters (406, 408, 410) for the control system by: generating a random noise signal; applying a low-pass filter to the random noise signal to produce a first filtered signal; applying a high-pass filter to the first filtered signal to produce a second filtered signal; superimposing the second filtered signal on a sinusoidal waveform to produce a reference test waveform; applying the reference test waveform to a system under test; measuring the output of the system under test; determining a transfer function of the system under test; and convolving the transfer function with the filters of the control system to produce the filter parameters; generating a random noise signal; applying a low-pass filter to the random noise signal to produce a first filtered signal; applying a high-pass filter to the first filtered signal to produce a second filtered signal; superimposing the second filtered signal on a sinusoidal waveform to produce a reference test waveform; applying the reference test waveform to a system under test; measuring the output of the system under test; determining a transfer function of the system under test; and convolving the transfer function with the filters of the control system to produce the filter parameters; operating the control system in a closed-loop configuration and inputting to the control system a stability test signal having a predetermined waveform; automatically monitoring the output of the materials testing system; setting a maximum and minimum threshold value for the feedback channel of the closed-loop control system; automatically comparing the output to the threshold values; if the output exceeds either threshold, preventing input to the control system of a command signal; and if the output does not exceed either threshold, permitting input to the control system of a command signal, wherein the stability test signal comprises an attenuated or low-frequency version of the command signal.