The College of Engineering and Computer Science has well equipped computer facilities that include IBM compatible computers, UNIX-based SUN workstations, and Macintosh computers.  A variety of software is also available.  These include I-DEAS, ABAQUS, ANSYS, CMOLD, I-CAD, etc.  Laboratory facilities in the Manufacturing area include:

1.  Metrology Laboratory

The Metrology Laboratory was established in 1993 through grants from the State of Michigan, National Science Foundation (NSF), and the Brown & Sharpe Manufacturing Company.  The laboratory is housed in an environmentally controlled room in the Manufacturing Systems Engineering Laboratory (MSEL).  It contains two Coordinate Measuring Machines (CMM), a laser interferometer system, a surface roughness tester, and digital and mechanical precision tools such as micrometers, bore gages, height gauge, etc.  The metrology laboratory is currently used for conducting research as well as teaching several laboratory exercises for two manufacturing courses.

2.  Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) Laboratory

The CIM Laboratory contains an educational computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) system that consists of two milling stations, and a material handling system.  The machining stations include a medium size milling machine and a lathe.  The CIM can be used to produce small parts weighing up to one kilogram.  The CIM laboratory was constructed based on an NSF-ILI grant.  The CIM system is currently used as the prime laboratory for three courses, namely Computer Integrated Manufacturing, Manufacturing Processes II, and Industrial Robots.  It is also used as a demo tool for several graduate and undergraduate courses.

3.  Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) Laboratory

The CAM Laboratory consists of a CNC milling machining center, a medium size milling machine, and a small CNC lathe.  This equipment can be used to produce a variety of rotational and prismatic parts.  The laboratory was established using a grant from the State of Michigan, and a special equipment grant from the Chancellor of UM-D.  The CAM laboratory is currently used for teaching laboratory exercises for manufacturing courses and also for conducting research.
 
4.  Robotics Laboratory

The Robotics Lab contains table top robots:  five SCORBOT-ER V robots, three RHINO XR robots, and a robot arc-welding cell.  The robotics laboratory is used for teaching fundamentals of robotics and automation.  It is currently used as the prime laboratory for two courses, namely Industrial robots and Computer Integrated Manufacturing.

5.  Rapid Prototyping Laboratory

The rapid prototyping technology allows for parts to be produced faster and directly from three dimensional CAD data.  This will require no human interaction during the fabrication phase.  Rapid prototyping systems are used to build prototype parts rapidly which could be used as concept models for evaluation of design, form, fit, and functions.  The produced part could be used as a master pattern for manufacturing applications.  This laboratory contains the following facilities:

    Rapid Prototyping Tools and Software

            FDM1650, Fused Deposition Modeling System, Stratasys Inc.
            QuickSlice, Stratasys Inc.
            D-600L Digital Camera
            PhotoModeler 3.0 Pro

    CAD Software

            SDRC I-DEAS Master Series
            I-CAD Intelligent Design Tool, Concentra

    Process Planning and Cost Estimating

            Decision Classification (DClass), CAM Software Inc.
            EZ-Quote Cost Estimating Software

    Control Systems and Robotics

            I-COM, A.I. Series Ladder Logistics
            AB-5/20 Programmable Logic Controller
            RTX Robot, Universal Machine Intelligence
 
    Hardware and Network Support

            SGI 02 Workstation
            DELL Pentium (Windows 95 & NT)
            Windows NT Network Environment

6.  Machine Dynamics and Diagnostics Lab

This lab was established to support the research and teaching activities in the areas of dynamic analysis, condition monitoring, diagnosis, and control of machines and equipment used in manufacturing and other industrial applications.  Facilities in the lab include:  an instrumented spindle test system, an instrumented paper handling system, CNC machines, a computer-based data aquisition system, various sensors and instruments (Dynamometers, accelerometers, sound sensor, etc.), and signal processing software (LabView, LabWindow, Matlab, Minitab).

7.  Simulation and Automation Laboratory

The Simulation and Automation Laboratory is equipped with workstations that can handle discrete event simulation through software packages such as WITNESS, SIMAN/Cinema, AUTOMOD and ROBOCAD, etc.  Undergraduate and graduate students in engineering, and in particular, in industrial and manufacturing engineering use this laboratory.

8.  Ergonomics and Human Performance Laboratory

The Ergonomics and Human Performance Laboratory serves many purposes.  It provides a facility for laboratory exercises and experiments in human performance and work methods.  The laboratory has a controlled environment with specific controls in acoustic and light intensity.  Students and faculty utilize this laboratory for ergonomic and human performance design projects.

9.  Manufacturing Process Laboratory

This laboratory is equipped with a rolling mill used for demonstration and sample preparation with AC, DC stick welders; a DC, MIG welder; submerged arc welder; spot welder; furnace equipment used for preparing samples; and hardness testing equipment such as Rockwell, Brinell and Tukon testers.  Additional equipment includes microsample viewing equipment, tensile testing units and Baldwin and Tinius Olsen universal testing machines.

10.  Materials Testing Laboratory

The purpose of the materials testing laboratory is to conduct research on mechanical properties of materials, including static, fatigue and environmental properties.  This laboratory is equipped with a computer controlled MTS servohydraulic testing machine, and environmental chamber, flexural test fixtures and fatigue softwares.  Other equipment in this laboratory include tensile testing machines, strain gages and measuring devices, polariscope, plate bending fatigue machine and photographing facilities.

11.  Plastics and Composites Processing Laboratory

In the last ten years, there has been a tremendous growth of plastics manufacturers and processors in Michigan.  To support the plastics industry as well as the automotive industry, engineers must be educated and trained in the design and manufacturing aspects of these materials.  Currently, we offer plastics courses to both undergraduate and graduate students as well as practicing engineers.  In addition, the university is engaged in a number of applied research projects on plastics and composite materials.  This laboratory contains a 90-ton injection molding machine, a hydraulic press with temperature controlled platens and a filament winding machine.