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Manufacturing Resources

Campus (and the greater Capital Region) have numerous facilities and capabilities to fabricate almost anything. Below is information on manufacturing resources that may be available to your project team. You MUST PLAN AHEAD! Be sure to review, talk to your teammates, and your Project Engineer!

For Capstone projects (as opposed to personal, IED, or research...), you MUST follow the standard Design Lab Process:

Rapid Prototype Parts

RPI campus has machines for creating "rapid prototyped parts" using a number of various technologies and materials.
  • Starch, plaster
  • ABS and PLA plastic material
  • FDM, SLA, SLS

A three dimensional STL file type is used to program these machines - you are responsible for creating this file.

Information on equipment available here - Rapid Prototyping Resources
Process for creating parts for Capstone projects - Rapid Prototyped Part Process

Mercer XLab [September 27, 2023]

Mercer Xlab provides tools and apparatus for developing electronic circuits.

Mercer Xlab renovation has started. Students can use a temp space in JEC 6215. If you want access to the temporary Mercer in Xile Lab, follow the steps on https://mercerxlab.rpi.edu/lab-access-and-resources.

Machined, Water Jet Cut, and Laser Cut Parts

Mill, lathe, CNC, boring, tapping and other machining operations
  • High tolerance, 2.5D to 3D shapes from metals and plastics
  • A three-dimension CAD file is used to program these machines - you are responsible for this file.
Water Jet Cutting
  • Low tolerance, complicated or simple shapes from sheet metal or plastic
  • A two-dimension CAD DXF type file is used to program these machines - you are responsible for this file.
Laser Cutting
  • Higher tolerance cutting of shapes from plastic materials (non-halogenated plastics only. Ex: Acrylic, ABS, polystyrene... NOT Teflon, PTFE, PCV, KYDEX...).
  • Also cuts cellulose based materials (ex: plywood, cardboard)
  • Can be used to etch / engrave.
  • Thickness less than 1/2 inch
  • A two-dimension CAD DXF type file is used to program these machines - you are responsible for this file.
  • See John Szczesniak in JEC Student Machine Shop. There is an instruction file on the laser cutting in this shop with more information.

Process for having RPI staff fabricate parts for capstone projects - Shop Fabricated Part Process
Process for students fabricating parts for capstone projects - Self Fabricated Part Process

JEC Student Machine Shop (JEC 1010)

Daytime and evening hours are available in this shop. Equipment includes manual mills, manual lathes, laser cutter, CNC router, band saw, shear, and associated tooling.
Posted schedule - http://manufacturing.eng.rpi.edu/jecshop
Machines may also be available during scheduled Engineering Processes class. Priority is given to students enrolled in Engineering Processes course.

SAFETY

Before doing any machining or even simply working in the shop, all student must pass the safety quiz available through SkillPort.
Before bringing any chemicals on campus for use on student projects, safe procedures must be defined. Process, necessary forms, and example documents can be found here