In this study, an experimental system is developed to detect three-dimensional shape and local mechanical properties. The three-dimensional shape is detected by a contact sensor and sequentially controlled three stepping motors for x, y and z axis displacement. A motor-controller circuit for the stepping motor is newly designed and controlled by a microcontroller device. From coordinate data of contact points between the sensor tip and a sample, the three-dimensional shape is reconstructed with a computer. From results of some experiments, it is confirmed that the system passably detects cartilage tissue's three-dimensional shape. On the other hand, the system has another sensor to evaluate mechanical properties based on the principle of electrostatic capacitance. Mechanical properties are estimate by amount of cantilever's deflection, and the amount of deflection was measured by the capacitance meter. The experimental result shows that the developed system can detect difference in mechanical properties between fatty white part and red lean part on a sliced meat.
