Information for Students
The Haas Technical Education Center at WPI is a valuable resource for students with IQPs and MQPs that require machined parts. Before parts can be made, there is a certain amount of work that needs to be done by the student beforehand.
Required Materials / Information for Students
- Lab Safety
- As a student working in the machine shop, you should be familiar with the laboratory saftety guidelines.
- Part Drawing
- This is important because it states your design intent because you as the part designer should be the most knowledgeable about your part. The example shows a 3-view drawing of the part to be made with a note for quantity, part material, and tolerances. A paper drawing is useful to understand what is the required information to make a part. To generate the machine code (G-Code), a part or drawing file from software like Pro/Engineer, AutoCAD, and CADKEY (available software in WPI's various computer laboratories) will make the generation of G-Code move more quickly. Alternatively, if the student understands more about the machinery, they may choose to use GibbsCAM (also available on campus) to create toolpaths to make the G-Code.
- Part Material
- Unless your part is small and aluminum, the odds are pretty good that the machine shop does not have the amount and type of material that you require for your project. It is generally a good idea to provide your own material so that you also have the material properties that you required instead of relying on whatever is found in the scrap bin.
- Machine Type
- From the type of part you are planning on making, you should know the size and type of machine required to make your part. For example, a part with an axis of symmetry should be considered to be generally a lathe part, while planes of symmetry are indicitive of milled parts. General machine envelope and power ratings can be found on the machinery page.
- Cutting Tool Types
- There are many different cutting tools available to use with the CNC machinery, fortunately there are only 3 primary types of tools that are used most frequently. These are: Endmills, Drills, and Taps. Some or all of these tools will be required to make the part you designed.
Last modified: June 17, 2008 15:03:50