Robotic Arms
The lab has a number of devices such as a robotic arm to teach students how to program them for use in manufacturing cells (both cellular and classic assembly line cells).
Uniquely modified die machine permits students to run experiments that capture the actual forces used during the punching operations. Piezoelectric crystals mounted in the plunger head send picoamps of current to a measurement rig designed by the student to convert the picoamps into measured forces.
One bay or section of the lab serves a dual function. It can be used as classroom or rapidly cleared of desks to allow a "production floor". Much of the equipment shown in these pages is mobile and the students are tasked to arrange U-shaped manufacturing cells using the robots, mini-mills and mini-lathes along with a great deal of smaller equipment not shown here.
