Welcome to the Mechanical Engineering Department
Student Projects Machine Shop Information:
NOTICE: Limited shop Days and Times due to budget cuts!
-
The Hangar Shop (building 04 Research and Development)
is open Tuesday &Thursday 12 noon-7pm & Saturday 9am-5pm.
-
The Mustang '60 Shop (in the Bonderson Projects Center)
is open Monday, Wednesday & Friday 12 noon-5pm.
*Critical Dates*:
The Hangar Shop Opens:
*Tuesday, September 29, 2009.
The Mustang '60 Shop Opens:
*Monday, September 28, 2009.
Both Shops are Closed for Holidays:
Last Tour and Test Day (Tests are Only at the Hangar)-to allow you access to the Shops:
* Saturday, November 7, 2009.
Mandatory Clean-Up required before working after this date:
* Saturday, November 7, 2009.
Last Hangar Shop Day:
*Thursday, December 3, 2009.
Last Mustang '60 Shop Day:
*Friday, December 4, 2009.
Introduction:
The use of these facilities is open to ALL STUDENTS of ALL MAJORS to work on SCHOOL projects. All students who wish to use the Shop must first REGISTER FOR ME 240 (some exceptions apply, see below) and take and pass the Shop Safety Tour and Test in the Hangar Shop during the times listed below.
Feel like you don't know anything about tools, but want to learn by making a school project? We'll be happy to help! We emphasize a Safe, serious, but fun environment. Check us out, we're in building 04, Research Development ("The Hangar") and the Mustang '60 shop in the Bonderson Projects Center. We welcome visitors! Check our schedule below for days and hours that we're open and drop by! We'll gladly show you around!
First year students! We encourage you to sign up early in your career here—You will find many class projects that can be enhanced by using the tools available in our facility!
Our Student Technicians ("Techs") can provide help and guidance in the manufacture of your project. You will build it yourself and possibly learn new skills, techniques and "tricks" through Cal Poly's famous "Learn by Doing" philosophy.
Design your project to match your skill level! We DO NOT build it for you, we provide friendly guidance.
Computer-controlled (CNC) machinery is RESTRICTED to skilled machinists, you should be able to do BOTH CAD and CAM programs without a lot of assistance before using our CNC machines.
Our shop is open to all, regardless of skills, abilities or majors.
Acceptable Types of School Projects:
A school project is defined as:
- All Senior Projects
- All Class Projects
- Approved Club projects with the consent of the advisor and the Shop Managing Technician.
A school project IS NOT:
- Fixing your car or bike in order to get to school.
- Building a bookshelf to hold your books.
- Building something for your fraternity or sorority – (Exception; making a “Bent” for Tau Beta Pi, the National Engineering Honor Society.)
- Building something to help finance your way through school.
If you have a project that isn’t acceptable in our facility, we suggest you check with the ASI Craft Center—Personal projects are allowed there!
How to Get Access to the Student Projects Hangar Shop and/or the 24-hour Computer Labs:
All you need to do is REGISTER FOR ME 240, a Credit/No Credit 1 unit class open to all majors.
All of the sections of ME 240 do not meet for lecture or lab, but are set up to allow registered students access to the Machine Shops and 24 hour Computer Labs. See below for instructions on getting Credit for ME 240 and using the Machine Shop facilities.
The 24 hour Computer Labs are also used as classrooms and available only by the instructor's permission while class is in session.
*To use the Shops, you must pass the Tour and Test you have taken with a 90% (55 correct out of 60) or better score by (See the date above).
Out of State and Late sign-ups:
Late "Gold Card" holders must do TWO (2) hours of clean-up BEFORE they can work and provide a written explanation from your Professor. We accept late gold cards at the Shop Manager's discretion.
You may be refused access to the shop at the Shop Manager's discretion.
Visit the Shop or the ME office for the "Gold Card" form to have your instructor sign, then take it to the Shop.
Notice: All Gold card holders must do their hour clean-ups BEFORE doing any work in the Shop. Plan your time accordingly.
Out-of-State Gold Card holders must do ONE (1) hour of clean-up BEFORE they can work. They DO NOT need a written explanation from their Professor.
ME 240 Course Offering
24-hour Computer Lab Access for ME students Only:
Need access codes for the 24-hour ME Computer Labs? You must be enrolled in ME 240 and sign up for a 1-hour Computer Lab clean-up session. Go to room 13-103 to sign up.
The 24 hour Computer Labs are also used as classrooms and available only by the instructor's permission while class is in session.
Student Projects Lab ("Shop") Access for all Majors:
You must take the Safety Tour and pass the Safety Test in the Hangar Shop at the times listed below to use the Shop facilities. See the Tour and Test schedule below.
In order to receive a "Credit" grade for ME 240 you must provide ONE HOUR of Shop Clean-Up per quarter, ONLY IF YOU COME IN AND WORK IN ONE OF THE SHOPS.
- If you don't sign-in and work in the Shops, you didn't get them dirty, so you don't have to do an Hour Shop Clean-Up that quarter.
Note: If you sign-in and work in the Shop, you must provide one hour of clean-up in the Shop by either dropping in to the Shop sometime during the first 5 weeks of that same quarter or by signing up for a Scheduled Hour Clean Up.
If you work in the Computer Lab, you must provide one hour of clean-up in the Computer Lab by appointment. Go to room 13-103 to sign up for Computer Lab Clean-Up.
If you work in both of the Shops, (Hangar and Mustang '60) and , you must provide one hour of clean-up in each shop for a total of 2 hours of clean-up.
You must also do an additional 1 hour clean-up by signing up in room 13-103 if you plan to use the Computer Labs.
You will receive a “No Credit” grade if you come in and work at one of our Shops and never do a recorded hour of Shop Clean-Up. Also, the NEXT TIME you go to use the Shops, we will require you to do TWO (2) Hours of clean-up BEFORE we let you use the Shop at all!
*Beginning (See the date above), you cannot work in the Shops unless you have completed your Hour Clean-Up duty!
(Do your clean-up early in the quarter-we save the really grundgy jobs for the end!)
Current Shop Hours:
*Notice: Equipment will be down for service and maintenance at various times, not all machines/tools will be available every day.
Shop Opens for the Quarter: (See the date above.)
General Shop Hours:
| Days | Shop Opens | Shop Closes |
|---|---|---|
| Mondays Mustang '60 Only | 12 noon | 5 PM |
| Tuesdays Hangar Only | 12 noon | 7 PM |
| Wednesdays Mustang'60 Only |
12 noon |
5 PM |
| Thursdays Hangar Only |
12 noon | 7 PM |
| Fridays Mustang '60 Only |
12 noon |
5 PM |
| Saturdays Hangar Only |
9 AM | 5 PM |
Shop Closed for Holidays:
* See above.
Last Tour and Test Day:
*See above.
Students who wish to use the Shop must be enrolled in M.E. 240 and take the Shop Safety Test and Tour.
Shop Procedures and Safety Tests:
In order to take a Tour and Test in the Hangar Shop to use our Shops you must:
- Be enrolled in ME 240. Add this class immediately if you haven't!
- OUT OF STATE and Late sign-ups; visit the Shop or the ME office for the "Gold Card" form to have your instructor sign, then take it to the Shop. Notice: All "Gold Card" holders must do their clean-ups BEFORE doing any work in the shop. Plan your time accordingly.
- *Out-of-State "Gold Card" holders must do one (1) hour of clean-up, See explanation above.
- *Late "Gold Card" holders must do two (2) hours of clean-up, See explanation above.
- Wear appropriate clothing for the Tour. If you wear shorts, open-toed shoes or excessively loose clothing or loose jewelry, you WILL NOT be allowed to take the Tour and Test for safety reasons. It also shows us that you haven't read this page!
- The Shop Safety Tour and Test takes approximately one and a half hours and is limited to the first TEN (10) people who arrive promptly. See the times listed below:
- YOU MUST READ the following documents prior to arriving for a tour:
Shop Rules and Regulations AND Red Tag Tour and Test Manual
The Red Tag Tour and Test is the REQUIRED standard introduction to the Hangar Shop and has no prerequisites. You MUST read the Red Tag Tour and Test Manual prior to your tour and safety test. You will most likely fail the test if you do not take the time to read the Red Tag Tour and Test Manual. This Tour and Test introduces you to many stationary and hand tools that allow you to fabricate a wide variety of materials in many ways. It DOES NOT include machining or welding tools.
Red Tag Safety Reminders
- Wear appropriate clothing. If you wear shorts, open-toed shoes or excessively loose clothing or loose jewelry, you WILL NOT be allowed to use the shop or take the Tour and Test for safety reasons.
- You must have your set-ups checked by a technician before beginning an operation.
- You may need tool-specific instructions.
- You are expected to ask questions if in doubt about safety or operations or when you are unfamiliar with a tool.
- *To use the shop, you must pass the test for the tour you have taken with a 55 correct out of 60 or better score by See above.
Yellow Tag Certification:
Yellow Tag Tour and Test Manual, For those who have passed the red tag test and worked 10+ hours in the shop according to our computer.
The Yellow Tag Tour and Test allows you to expand your fabrication skills into machining and welding. You MUST read the Yellow Tag Tour and Test Manual prior to your tour and safety test. You will most likely fail the test if you do not take the time to read the Yellow Tag Tour and Test Manual. You must have a REQUIRED minimum of 10 hours of Red Tag shop use on record to qualify for this tour and test. Red Tag qualified students who have demonstrated competence on hand and stationary power tools using in the shop may take the Yellow Tag Tour and Test. Yellow Tags allow students to use any machine in the shop if they are properly supervised.
Yellow Tag Safety Reminders:
- Wear appropriate clothing. If you wear shorts, open-toed shoes or excessively loose clothing or loose jewelry, you WILL NOT be allowed to use the shop or take the Tour and Test for safety reasons.
- You must have your set-ups checked by a technician before beginning an operation.
- You may need tool-specific instructions.
- You are expected to ask questions if in doubt about safety or operations or when you are unfamiliar with a tool.
- *To use the shop, you must pass the test for the tour you have taken with a 55 correct out of 60 or better score by See above.
- You are only allowed to use the tools that you have taken tours and tests for. To advance from one color tag to the next, you must show us evidence of competence with the tools you are already qualified to use.
Shop Safety Tour and Test Schedule:
See above. (No Tour and Test after that date!)
Wear long pants and closed-toe shoes for the Tour. If you wear shorts (even baggy ones), sandals, flip-flops or excessively loose clothing or loose jewelry, you WILL NOT be allowed to take the Tour for safety reasons.
The Shop Safety Tour and Test takes approximately one and a half hours and is limited to the first TEN (10) people who arrive promptly at the following times:
| Days | Tour/Test Begins | Type of Test |
|---|---|---|
| Mondays | No tour and Test | |
| Tuesdays | 1 p.m. At the Hangar | Yellow Tag Test (Advanced) |
| Tuesdays | 4 p.m. At the Hangar | Red Tag Test (Introductory) |
| Wednesdays | No tour and Test | - |
| Thursdays | 1 p.m. At the Hangar |
Red Tag Test (Introductory) |
| Thursdays | 4 p.m. At the Hangar |
Yellow Tag Test (Advanced) |
| Fridays | No Tour and Test | - |
| Saturdays | 10 a.m. At the Hangar |
Red Tag Test (Introductory) |
| Saturdays | 1 p.m. At the Hangar |
Yellow Tag Test (Advanced) |
Shop Closed for Holidays:
* See above.
After you Pass the test:
- Fill out and sign the Two-Sided "General Laboratory Safe Practice Procedures" and "Machine Shop Waiver and Agreement" form and the "Shop Information Data" green card accurately. These forms are available from the Hangar Technicians.
- Practice and abide by the Shop Rules and Regulations.
- You must Always Ask if you don't know.
- Maintain a "Safety First" attitude.
- Report all injuries, no matter how minor.
- Report all incidents and tool breakage.
- Clean Up after yourself.
- Sign in whenever you are in the shop.
How to Sign In and use tools:
- Give us your Name, we will log you into the shop computer.
- Trade your Cal Poly ID Card for an appropriately colored badge, which comes with 5 "coins" with your badge number on them.
- Trade the "coins" for tools that you use. We put the "coin" in the spot from where we have removed the tool. Only Shop Technicians are allowed inside the tool crib.
Machine Shop Procedures:
- When you return the tool clean and in good condition, we give you your “coin” back.
- When you check out, you return the badge and all 5 “coins”, and we give you your ID Card back.
- If you check out a large machine (Lathe, Mill, etc.) we put your “coin” on a Machine Board and exchange it with an Oval Machine Tag that you place on the machine you are using.
- When you are done with the machine and return the Oval Machine Tag, we physically inspect the machine and it’s area for cleanliness before giving you your “coin” back.
- If you damage or break a tool, you must report it immediately. We will not yell at you, but will discuss how the incident happened and how to prevent it from happening again. You will be required to fill out an Incident Report Form.
- We could charge you for the tool (see the “Cal Poly State University Mechanical Engineering Machine Shop Waiver and Agreement”) but if you learn from the incident and implement the safe procedures that we have discussed, we will waive the replacement costs.
- If you do not report a broken or damaged tool or hide it, you’ll compromise someone else’s or your own safety. This will be taken very seriously! We will report it to the College Administration and the Dean's Office and kick you out of the shop for at least one quarter.
- If you have never used a machine, or have doubts, you are expected to ask us to show you how. We will inspect your set-up before we unlock the machine to make sure you are operating it safely!
NOTICE: Limited Access to CNC Machines :
- Design your project to match your skill level! We DO NOT build it for you, we provide guidance.
- CNC machinery is restricted to skilled machinists, you should be able to do BOTH CAD and CAM programs without a lot of assistance before using CNC machines.
- Start on your project as early in the quarter as you can!
- Submit your project design as a CAD file for review and consideration at least 2 weeks in advance of your need, NOT your due date.
- We will take your CAD file or an accurate drawing into consideration, depending on your experience in OUR shop, the complexity of the process, Tech availability, time considerations for other CNC projects and other factors.
- All decisions are FINAL, there is no appeals process.
- Have a contingency plan in place to manufacture your project using available manual machines and tools. Start on your project as early in the quarter as you can.
- Your CNC project must be approved by the Staff ShopTechnicians, George Leone or Eric Pulse.
Helpful Tips: So You Can Finish Your Project :
- Begin your project well in advance, as tool and machine time can be limited.
- Feel free to discuss with us how you plan to build your project, most likely we may know a “trick” or tool that would save you lots of time.
- Design your project for tools that you know how to use. It's O.K. to learn to use 1 or 2 new tools in your project, but don't design the majority of the project to be built by processes or machines that you don't know how to use. We don't build stuff for you!
- We want you to succeed. We will help you, but we won’t “bail you out”. As they say, “Bad Planning on your part does not necessarily constitute an emergency on our part.”
- As a rule of thumb, if you’ve never done a process before, it will take 4 TIMES as long as you think! If you have done it before it will take only 3 TIMES as long as you think! This is not an attempt at humor, this is a reality! We see it every quarter when people fail to finish.
- Work on your project as early in the quarter as you can, it gets harder to check out the tools that you need as the shop gets busier near the end of the quarter.
CLEAN UP POLICY :
In order to receive a "Credit" grade for ME 240 you must provide ONE or TWO HOURS of Hangar Clean-Up per quarter, IF YOU SIGN IN TO WORK IN THE HANGAR SHOP and ACTUALLY WORK IN THE HANGAR SHOP.
- *Beginning See above. you cannot work in the shop unless you have done your clean-up duty. Drop in and see a Shop Tech for a project assignment or appointment. See explanation above.
- All students are required to properly clean up any area or machine they have used BEFORE proceeding to another area or machine. This includes ALL machines and work areas of the shop. A brush-up and sweep doesn't take long!
- All machine locks that were UN-locked must be RE-locked when you are finished.
- Persons using machine tools or tools that produce lots of dust and debris are required to begin clean-up 30 minutes before the shop closes.
- All other students must stop 15 minutes before the shop closes.
- The Tech's have the authority to have you begin your clean-up earlier if you have made us stay late or left your work area dirty in the past or have made a big mess.
- All known materials that are spilled must be immediately reported to a Tech, then cleaned up.
- All Unknown material spills must not be touched and immediately reported to a Tech. who will handle the problem. If you don't know EXACTLY what it is, DON'T TOUCH IT!
M. E. Department Staff:
- George Leone (ME Technician, Hangar) 756-6350
- Eric Pulse (ME Technician, Mustang '60) 756-5634
Shop Tech Jobs
Notice: No jobs are available due to budget cuts, but you can apply for future openings.
ALL MAJORS ARE WELCOME TO APPLY.
Contact George Leone about possible job openings at the Student Projects lab. To be considered for a Student Technician job, you must have a Yellow tag in good standing, at least two (2) quarters experience in our shop, safe work habits and an attitude of quality and professionalism. You should preferably have 2-4 years left in your career at Cal Poly. You will be asked to submit a resume and have a valid Social Security Card. Foreign nationals may have different requirements, please ask. ALL MAJORS ARE WELCOME TO APPLY.
Contact Information
For Information Regarding shop authorization, or with any questions call the Student Projects lab office at (805) 756-2266 during shop hours.Or contact George Leone.