ME Machine Shop

The Department of Mechanical Engineering's machine shop is located on the first floor of ETC II. The shop is well equipped; having both conventional machine tools and CNC (Computer Numerical Control) machine tools. An optical comparitor is available for part inspection and reverse engineering.

The ME shop has a foundry for casting non-ferrous metals and uses an induction furnace for melting the metal. The shop also has facilities for grinding, welding, heat-treating, casting, and sheet metal work.

Generally, the shop consists of two parts, the professional shop and the student shop. The student portion of the shop is available to mechanical engineering students who have read and understand the safety rules and have machine shop certification (this involves a four-hour safety intensive training class - offered monthly).

The shop has a number of engine lathes and vertical mills available for student use as well as the necessary tools. The shop also has other equipment that can be used with appropriate permission and instruction.

The professional portion of the shop provides services to the faculty and graduate students working on research projects. The shop also produces the specimens for the materials science teaching labs and maintains or makes special equipment needed for all labs. The shop personnel include three full time journeymen machinists, two electronics technicians, two lab managers who oversee the undergraduate laboratories, and a solid freeform fabrication (SFF) laboratory technician.

Don Artieschoufsky oversees all shop activities, supervises the employees, teaches ME 350, and schedules certification classes. Students and faculty have access to these resources, and can utilize the expertise of the shop staff. Parts can be modified and/or made to specifications by machinists Danny Jares (who also teaches certification classes), Curtis Johnson (who also provides welding services), and Michael Slotboom (CNC machinist). Electronic devices can also be manufactured and customized by electronics shop technicians Mark Phillips (who also supports the solid freeform fabrication (SFF) laboratory ) and Fred Rothhauser (who also provides infrastructure support). James Sanders oversees the undergraduate Materials labs and Tho Huynh supports the Thermal Fluid Systems, Heat Transfer, and Mechatronics labs.