Patent ID: 7752916

Claim:
A system for testing a microscale or nanoscale sample, the system comprising: a testing stage comprising: a frame having first and second opposing ends and first and second side beams; at least one deformable force sensor beam near the first opposing end extending laterally across said frame between the first and second side beams; a first longitudinal beam bisecting said at least one force sensor beam, said first longitudinal beam having a free end; a second longitudinal beam having a free end facing the free end of said first longitudinal beam to define a gap therebetween; a support structure near the second opposing end, said support structure comprising a plurality of laterally extending beams disposed such that said second longitudinal beam bisects the plurality of laterally extending beams; a pair of slots, one disposed at each of the free ends of said first and second longitudinal beams respectively, each of the slots comprising a tapered portion leading to a generally longitudinal portion aligned with said first and second longitudinal beams, wherein said pair of slots together provide a seat for a dogbone-shaped sample; and a first opening disposed near the first opposing end and a second opening disposed near the second opposing end; a dog-bone shaped sample, said sample comprising opposed ends shaped to fit respectively within the slots and a longitudinal beam of said sample disposed between the opposed ends; a moving stage comprising a pair of inserts coupled to each of the pair of openings, respectively, said moving stage comprising at least one actuator coupled to at least one of the pair of inserts for moving the pair of inserts with respect to one another, thus placing a tensile or compressive load on said sample; and a calibrator coupled to and receivable within an opening in the second opposing end, said calibrator comprising: at least one leaf spring extending laterally across said calibrator; a longitudinal beam of said calibrator extending through said at least one leaf spring and bisecting said at least one leaf spring; a gauge longitudinally opposing said longitudinal beam of said calibrator and separated from said longitudinal beam of said calibrator by a gap; and a calibration support stage, said calibration support stage comprising a horizontal surface for supporting an end of said calibrator and a pair of vertical surfaces disposed normal to and over the horizontal surface for sandwiching said calibrator therebetween, at least one of the pair of vertical surfaces being movable relative to the horizontal surface.