BEAVERTON, Ore. – – October 28, 2026 -- Vernier Science Education has launched the Go Direct Materials Test Frame, a tabletop system priced at an introductory $3,495 that measures forces up to ±4,000 N in college teaching laboratories.
Test frame measures force to 0.18 N and displacement to 0.51 μm
The system records real-time force data up to ±4,000 N and displacement across roughly 0–23 cm. Resolution is 0.18 N for force and 0.51 μm for displacement. Adaptable features accommodate specimens longer than 60 cm.
It supports multiple-station setups, so several student groups can run their own experiments at once. Students analyze data in the Vernier Graphical Analysis app on mobile devices, Chromebooks or computers.
University of Delaware co-developed the frame and a free biomechanics curriculum
Vernier developed the product with Jenni Buckley, associate dean and professor of mechanical engineering at the University of Delaware, and her department. Buckley said the frame is comparable to higher-priced models and intuitive enough for multiple student groups to get started quickly.
The University of Delaware also produced a free, open-source biomechanics curriculum for the device. Its investigations cover musculoskeletal tissue mechanics, orthopaedic fracture plate design, clinical case studies, human movement analysis, engineering mechanics applications and experimental design.
Applications span biological tissues, medical devices, plastics, metals and composites
Listed use cases include:
- Characterizing the mechanical behavior of biological tissues and the strength of medical devices
- Comparing plastics, metals, composites, and student-designed or 3D-printed materials
- Examining stress-strain behavior to characterize stiffness and failure
- Exploring the transition between elastic and plastic deformation
Vernier CEO Jill Hedrick said students can now more easily explore how materials behave in the real world. The frame targets biomedical engineering, mechanical engineering and materials science courses.
The test frame carries Vernier product support and a five-year limited warranty. The $3,495 price is a limited-time introductory offer.