facilities links

MFET Facilities

• Manufacturing Center
• MfET 481 '07(38 MB)
• MfET 481 '06(4 MB)
• MfET 481 '05(26 MB)
• MfET 481 '04(8 MB)

MET Facilities

• Materials Laboratory
• Applied Experimental Mechanics Laboratory
• Manufacturing Laboratory
  (Applied Measurement Laboratory, Metal Castings Laboratory, Welding Laboratory, Manufacturing Processes, Plastics Laboratory)
• Applied Energy Laboratory
• Fluid Power Laboratory
• Machine Tool Laboratory
• Prime Mover Laboratory

About Us: Facilities

Manufacturing Center

Spring 2008 Class Schedule

The Manufacturing Center "Model Factory" Laboratory is located in Knoy Hall, Room 258, and has approximately 2,500 square feet of floor space.  The model factory is a fully integrated collection of automated machine tools, robots, process control systems and related equipment designed for teaching and demonstrating state-of-the-practice manufacturing methods.  The model factory includes six "drop lines" that may be operated independently, or as part of a larger integrated work cell.

Each of the six drop lines include a cell control computer, an electric robot, a programmable logic controller, and a computer-controlled manufacturing process.  Manufacturing processes at three of the six drop lines feature CNC machine tools.

The Engineering Center provides 16 computer work stations for student use and a teaching station with audiovisual equipment for teaching and presentations.  This facility is used to prepare students for work on the model factory and for design and programming work. Software provided for student use includes Microsoft Office, CAD/CAM, and ERP packages in addition to the software needed to program the robots and programmable controllers.

The laboratory is reputed to be the only Automated Manufacturing "Model Factory" facility for undergraduate education in the world.  Extensive support from the industrial partners of MFET and the School of Technology have made this lab possible.

Night Lab Technician has right to dismiss anyone disruptive from the center

If you have any questions, PLEASE ASK!

Emergency Contact:
Jerry Budd (Systems Technologist)
e-mail: buddjl@purdue.edu
phone: (765)490-1018

*Manufacturing Center will close at 10:00 PM if one or fewer students are present