New instructional labs expand ME student course opportunities

Mechanical Engineering has a habit of growing. The movement of Engineering Mechanics students into the ME department in 2023, plus overall growth in the number Mechanical Engineering students, now puts the department at over 1500 undergraduates. To meet demand, the department underwent significant instructional labs space renovations during summer 2024, debuting scaled up capacity in ME courses this semester.

A highlight of the summer 2024 renovations is a new mechatronics lab, which all ME students now take to learn about embedded systems that couple microcontrollers, actuators, and sensors—essential skills for today’s engineers. ME also opened a new lab dedicated to experimental vibrations and controls and doubled the capacity of the measurements lab. Additionally, we improved the layout and functionality of our Intro Lab, a critical space for fostering community among our freshmen students. These enhancements will ensure our students gain in-depth, practical experience with industry-relevant technologies.

Mechatronics lab (ME 376)

The Mechatronics space in room 2145 was converted from an effective but cramped and underutilized space into two new laboratory-style classrooms with improved layout, increased capacity, room to grow, and updated equipment. The changes were made to enable our Department to achieve our emerging goal of equipping all Mechanical Engineering graduates with the skills and competencies they will need for careers in integrated, cross-disciplinary fields. The faculty and graduate student assistants have worked hard to develop a new, required core course, ME 376 Introduction to Mechatronics, that teaches these areas to all of our students. These classrooms were needed to handle the laboratory component of the classes, which teaches a scaffolded progression of hands-on skills, from basic circuits and lab equipment to control of electric motors with an embedded microcontroller. Thanks to Peter Adamczyk.

Measurements/Instrumentation lab (ME 368)

The Measurements and Instrumentation lab in room 2153, gained approximately 60% more square footage with the removal of 4 walls and improvement of room layout. The number of student workbenches was doubled, increasing student capacity from 16 to 32. Storage space was given up, but now all equipment is stored right at the workbenches. A second TA bench was added so two TAs can supervise each lab section and the TAs get to cooperate to solve the difficult student questions. Thanks to Scott Sanders.

Dynamic Systems, Vibrations and Controls Lab (EMA/ME 540, ME/ECE 577)

The experimental vibrations shared lab space in room 2145A is brand new and provides 36 seats and 12 workstations for hands on laboratory experiments using state of the art equipment. A primary user of the space is ME/EMA 540 – a senior/graduate level course that mixes lecture theory with laboratory exercises. The new, more dedicated space allows flexibility to perform more sophisticated vibration experiments and it reduces the stress burden on the students to obtain measurements in a reduced amount of time. An additional hope will be to grow enrollment! Thanks to Mike Sracic.

Introduction to ME lab (ME 201)

The renovations to the ME 201 Intro lab space in room 2158 were cosmetic or organizational, serving to refresh the space and adapt to the storage needs for growing student populations and expansions to course content.

The storage annex was overhauled, old items disposed of, and new cabinets installed. The improved organization has helped us respond more quickly and dynamically to supply needs for lab content and final project builds. Underneath the surface, there were pushes to make the lab space more functional and accommodating even at the most minor levels. This included upgrades to tools and mechanical equipment.

The 2158 space now also houses the new Intro to Engineering Mechanics course taught by Jennifer Franck. Thanks to Graham Wabiszewski.

Main image: Mike Sracic looks on while a student inserts a water droplet into the standing pressure wave of an acoustic levitator. The acoustic levitator is tested in the final lab of ME/EMA 540, and students take multi-physics measurements of electrical, mechanical, and fluid dynamics. These measurements serve to quantify the levitators performance and design characteristics. 

All photos by Caitlin Scott and Kassi Akers.