A testing instrument for mechanical testing at a one or more of nano or micron scale comprising: a transducer body; a coupling shaft; a probe tip coupled with the coupling shaft; and a capacitor housed within the transducer body, the capacitor includes: first and second counter electrodes (500, 502) coupled with the transducer body, and a center electrode assembly interposed between the first and second counter electrodes, the center electrode assembly is movable with the coupling shaft relative to the transducer body, and the center electrode assembly includes: a center plate coupled with the coupling shaft, one or more springs coupled between the transducer body and the center plate, the one or more springs extending from the center plate, characterized in that the center electrode assembly further comprises: an upper plate covering the center plate and the one or more springs, the upper plate is engaged with a center plate first face, and a lower plate covering the center plate and the one or more springs, the lower plate is engaged with a center plate second face, and the center plate and the upper and lower plates suspend the one or more springs. a transducer body; a coupling shaft; a probe tip coupled with the coupling shaft; and a capacitor housed within the transducer body, the capacitor includes: first and second counter electrodes (500, 502) coupled with the transducer body, and a center electrode assembly interposed between the first and second counter electrodes, the center electrode assembly is movable with the coupling shaft relative to the transducer body, and the center electrode assembly includes: a center plate coupled with the coupling shaft, one or more springs coupled between the transducer body and the center plate, the one or more springs extending from the center plate, characterized in that the center electrode assembly further comprises: an upper plate covering the center plate and the one or more springs, the upper plate is engaged with a center plate first face, and a lower plate covering the center plate and the one or more springs, the lower plate is engaged with a center plate second face, and the center plate and the upper and lower plates suspend the one or more springs. first and second counter electrodes (500, 502) coupled with the transducer body, and a center electrode assembly interposed between the first and second counter electrodes, the center electrode assembly is movable with the coupling shaft relative to the transducer body, and the center electrode assembly includes: a center plate coupled with the coupling shaft, one or more springs coupled between the transducer body and the center plate, the one or more springs extending from the center plate, characterized in that the center electrode assembly further comprises: an upper plate covering the center plate and the one or more springs, the upper plate is engaged with a center plate first face, and a lower plate covering the center plate and the one or more springs, the lower plate is engaged with a center plate second face, and the center plate and the upper and lower plates suspend the one or more springs. a center plate coupled with the coupling shaft, one or more springs coupled between the transducer body and the center plate, the one or more springs extending from the center plate, characterized in that the center electrode assembly further comprises: an upper plate covering the center plate and the one or more springs, the upper plate is engaged with a center plate first face, and a lower plate covering the center plate and the one or more springs, the lower plate is engaged with a center plate second face, and the center plate and the upper and lower plates suspend the one or more springs. an upper plate covering the center plate and the one or more springs, the upper plate is engaged with a center plate first face, and a lower plate covering the center plate and the one or more springs, the lower plate is engaged with a center plate second face, and the center plate and the upper and lower plates suspend the one or more springs.