A universal test system for determining material properties of a specimen includes a base; a force sensing element in a fixed relative position to said base; a sample holder in a fixed relative position to said force sensing element, the sample holder adapted to receive a sample; a vertically movable element for contacting the sample in the sample holder and exerting a force thereon; and a controller for controlling the vertical position of the vertically movable element; wherein the force sensing element transfers an indication of the force exerted on the sample by the vertically movable element to the controller and wherein the controller controls the position of the vertically movable element in accordance with the indication of force sensed by the force sensing element.