Machine Shop
With more than 1,500 sq. ft., the machine shop contains a variety of metal working machinery. The capabilities include metal laser cutting, milling, turning as well as sheet metal equipment.
For questions about the Machine Shop, email one of the shop supervisors: Mikayla Stephenson (mstephenson22@georgefox.edu).
Schedule
View the most up-to-date Machine Shop schedule On this Google sheet
Equipment Overview
| Name | Company | Model | Current Ace ⠉ |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bead Roller | Mittler Brothers | 210-24M | Needed |
| Bending Brake | Chicago Steel | W31 | Nathan Hayward |
| Drill Press | Clausing | 20" Variable Speed | Needed |
| Hand Bender | Di-Acro | Model 2 Bender (02HB) | Needed |
| Horizontal Bandsaw | Ellis Mfg. Company Inc. | 1600 | Needed |
| Hydraulic Press | Baileigh | 30T Air Press | Nathan Hayward |
| Lathe | Monarch | 10EE | Needed |
| Metal Laser Cutter | FabLight | Tube and Sheet FL4500 | Nathan Jonson |
| Milling Machine | Hardinge | Bridgeport | Sofia Ayesa |
| Ring Roller | Baileigh Industrial | R-M5 | Needed |
| Rotary Punch | Di-Acro | Turret Punch No. 12 | Needed |
| Sheet Metal Shear | Peck, Stow & Wilcox Co. | G-52 | Brady Pfeiffer |
| Slip Roller | Baileigh | SR-5016M | Needed |
| Vertical Bandsaw | DoALL | ML | Needed |
| Waterjet Cutter | OMAX | ProtoMAX | Mikayla Stephenson |
3 commandments
Safety First
Safety First is the rule we hold highest of the three. This rule applies to both the safety of you as well as others
Keeping yourself safe in the Machine Shop is very important, as there are possibilities for accidents if you don't follow the safety guidelines. Safety starts with you so don't depend on others to keep you safe. There is a first aid kit located on the south wall near the Wood Shop door.
The following rules must be followed at all times.
. Safety glasses must be worn when crossing into the shop area marked on the floor.
· No horseplay in the shop.
· Don’t do anything distracting to yourself or others while operating machinery.
· Do not wear any loose clothing, jewelry, or lanyards.
· No hats or open toed shoes.
· Hair will not extend below the collar.
· Do not wear gloves while operating powered machinery.
· Food or drink is allowed when not operating machinery and it is kept a safe distance away from the machines.
· Do not attempt to operate machinery in the shop that you have not been certified on by GFU engineering personnel.
· Do not argue with volunteers or shop staff. Contact Justin Johnson if you have issues that need to be resolved.
· Do not operate machinery without a shop supervisor or trained volunteer in the shop with you. Never operate equipment alone in the shop.
· Reset the space. Make the area you are working in ready for the next person using the dust broom and vacuum cleaner.
· The first aid kit is located in the machine shop, next to the Wood Shop doors.
· If you see a safety violation inform the person immediately and encourage them to comply with the policies
· Don’t do anything that would require an additional rule to be added to this list.
Reset the Space
The Machine Shop has a specific organization to it. Put whatever you use back where it belongs. There is a place for everything and everything has a place. This rule applies to everything in the space. If you use a tool, put it back. If you use a pen, put it back. Throw away your trash and recycling.
Now, we understand that sometimes you need to leave projects out. Maybe you are in the middle of a large project and you need something left overnight. In cases like this, it is okay, but you NEED to make prior arrangements with Nick or Justin.
Please put back the Machinery the way you found it. Clean up chips and any messes you make. NEVER use shop air to clean off the machines.
Always put any unused materials back on the storage shelf, and put small pieces in the scrap box.
Always leave the space better than you found it.
Be Professional
This commandment has two sides to it. It covers the idea of acting like professional (which Webster’s defines as “exhibiting a courteous, conscientious, and generally businesslike manner in the workplace”). The term also describes the standards of education and training that prepare members of the profession with the particular knowledge and skills necessary to perform their specific role within that profession. Hopefully, you are learning both of these as part of your education at George Fox University. In the Machine Shop we expect you to develop as a courteous, conscientious, and skilled craftsman, understanding the tools and equipment in the Maker Hub and how to use them effectively.
Being a professional has some obvious ramifications in terms of behavior. First, be Christlike. Think of others as better than yourself. Share. If you have been machining a for a prolonged time and someone else is waiting for the machine, let them use the machine for a while. This is being a professional.
If you are learning to how to use a machine, and you can't get something to work the way you want - ASK SOMEONE! Learn! Become a professional. Learn the craft. This is an educational space. You might think it will be quick and you can just get it done “your” way and not learn how to do it correctly. Be a professional and learn the proper way, and then be available to teach others.
One very important, and likely difficult part of being a professional is to correct others when they are not being professional. It is your responsibility to speak up when you see somebody doing something inappropriate. If you see somebody doing something unsafe, not resetting the space, or being unprofessional, the professional thing to do is to remind them of the three commandments and ask them politely to correct their behavior. This is OUR space, not any individual's. As a group, we expect everyone in the space to keep the space safe, clean, and operable for everyone.
If someone acts unprofessionally in the Machine Shop, you are welcome to bring the issue to Justin or Nick's attention.
General Machine Shop Knowledge
Machining is the process of removing material so it is subtractive manufacturing. We have a variety of machines in the shop.
The 3 main processes include milling, turning, and drilling.
Each machine has its own special purpose and benefits. The drill press will produce holes quickly but normally has less precision than using a milling machine. The lathe is normally used for making round parts and drilling. The metal laser is good for making fast precise cuts in sheet metal. The waterjet can cut steel up to 1" thick but it takes a long time to cut thick materials. The finger brake allows you to make bends in sheet metal. The shear is good for cutting straight lines in thin sheet metal or making smaller pieces.
Here are a few good steps to being successful in the Machine Shop.
- Make sure your workpiece is held securely before making cuts.
- Metal can be hot and sharp so always be careful when picking up material pieces.
- Make sure you you have been properly trained before attempting to use a machine.
- Keep hands away from moving parts on machines.
- Always ask if you have questions on how to do something.
Here are a couple things to keep in mind:
- Material can be very hot after machining.
- Machining can produce very sharp edges.
- Never try to operate machinery when you are tired.
- Never work in the shop with loose clothing or items that could get pulled into a machine.
Canvas Certification
Before working with any of the equipment in the Machine Shop you will need to take the general lab quiz as well as the specific quiz for each machine you are trying to use.