A device for measuring at least one property of a material sample is
disclosed. The device includes at least one sensor element which is
formed by a direct-write technique. The device can be an instrument for
measuring strain in the sample, or for measuring other properties or
attributes of a sample, such as temperature. A turbine engine disk on
which components of property-measuring devices have been direct-written
is also described. Methods of forming sensor elements for
property-measuring devices are disclosed.