Mechanical Engineering Technology - Facilities

The Mechanical Engineering Technology Department offers extensive laboratories to support each program with equipment, instrumentation, and test facilities directly related to each field of specialization. These facilities provide the practical experience needed by today’s technical graduates. The application of computers for analysis, data acquisition, data reduction, report writing, and technical presentations is also emphasized throughout the programs.

Computer-Aided Design Laboratory – provides a true design environment that is supported by the latest software for drafting, solid modeling, product design, mechanism & system design, calculations, presentations, and analysis. Labs consist of either “stand alone” desktop computers or student laptops.

Materials Testing Laboratory – includes a 160,000-pound universal testing machine and other test equipment to examine impact, torsion, hardness, and fatigue. Metallographic preparation and computer-aided image processing are used to examine material structure. Heat treating furnaces are also used to investigate the effects of thermal processing.

Automated Manufacturing Laboratory – provides direct experience with computer numerical control (CNC) machines, robotics, and the integration of robotic concepts to automated manufacturing. Part design and programs for operation of the CNC systems are prepared and executed. A new addition to this lab is a 3 axis coordinate measuring machine for parts inspection and reverse engineering.

Mechanical Design Laboratory – is equipped as a standard industrial research and development laboratory in the area of mechanical systems dynamics. This facility enables students to analyze rotational equipment, industrial power transmission devices, and various mechanical linkage designs.  Using a “learn by doing” approach, students are able to apply the theoretical concepts conveyed during lecture to complete rigorous laboratory assignments.

Metrology & Measurements Laboratory – serves as a state-of-the-art “quality assurance” center and is anchored by new equipment recently donated by area companies. Facilities include a manual coordinate measurement machine donated by Helmel Engineering and a digital Starrett optical comparator and direct computer controlled coordinate measurement machine, both acquired through a grant from the Gleason Foundation.

Internal Combustion Engines, Rotating and Process Equipment Laboratory – includes a laboratory, test cells, and equipment which provide experience with testing and performance evaluation of engines or rotating equipment such as pumps, fans, centrifugal compressors, and turbines. Fuels, lubricants, and emission testing equipment provide experience with standard tests on petroleum products and fuels. Testing procedures emphasize electronic instrumentation and computer-based engine control, data acquisition, and test data reduction and presentation.

Machine Tool/Manufacturing Laboratory – is equipped with 20 manual tool room style engine lathes, vertical and universal milling machines, drill presses, and radial drill presses. Traditional machining operations are introduced and reinforced in this laboratory with the goal of giving the students “hands-on” exposure to various methods and techniques applied to production so as to give a better understanding of the related design concepts.

HVAC&R (Heating, Ventilating, Air Conditioning and Refrigeration) Laboratories – provide hands-on experience in the areas of heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, fluid mechanics, heat transfer, and thermodynamics. Classroom theory is reinforced through the application to heating systems (forced air furnaces, steam and hot water boilers), air conditioning and refrigeration systems, heat pump systems, and coils. The characteristics of the laboratory systems are investigated, tested, and evaluated for component and overall efficiencies. Students gain experience in the operation of electrical, power, temperature, pressure, air flow and water flow, combustion, and system balancing test equipment. These laboratories have been generously supported and upgraded through a large grant from a mechanical engineering technology alumnus and several ASHRAE (American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers) senior project grants.

Energy Systems Laboratory – provides students hands-on experience with state-of-the-art equipment that deals with alternative energy issues. Systems include conventional flat panel solar heating, solar concentrators, solar-assisted heat pumps, co-generation and geothermal heat pumps. Real-time equipment performance data is used for simulation, modeling, and economic analysis.

Thermofluid Mechanics Laboratory – is equipped with systems which provide experience with the principles of fluid mechanics and thermodynamics. Fluid flows through venturies, orifices, nozzles, pipes, ducts, and open channels together with system components such as pumps, fans, and piping systems are used to provide a broad range of experimentation to support basic principles.

Control Systems Laboratory – provides experience with logic control systems as they apply to motors, pneumatics, hydraulics, and processes utilizing control relays, contactors, switches, programmable logic controllers, actuators, regulators, valves, and flow controls. Students learn the logical sequence of controls and understand different applications by designing, fabricating, and testing systems.

Student Project Laboratory – provides support for course projects and the senior capstone design experience. This facility provides secure storage for projects and the necessary tools and support equipment.