Machine Shop Training
| Manager/Instructor: Stan Cotreau | 32 Lyman Laboratory, 17A Oxford
Street, Cambridge, MA, 02138 (617)495-5217 | |
The Machine Shop in the Physics Department is primarily a student shop, focused on teaching students to run basic machine shop equipment in a safe environment.
The following training sessions are now offered:
- Basic Instruction
- RED Certification, which is designed to give access to certain machines for casual users
- GREEN Certification, with involves more in-depth training
- Additional training
Those who have RED certification will be able to operate
machines which have red stickers near the power switch. Those
with the GREEN certification will be able to operate all the
red machine, plus the machines with the green stickers.
1. Basic InstructionBasic Instruction
includes a review of all safety rules and practices, tour of
the Shop, discussion on Machine Shop etiquette and the rundown
on the rest of the training process. This class is mandatory
for all users: one cannot get either RED or GREEN certification
without it. It is approximately one hour long and is held twice
on the first Thursday of each month: one session in the morning
and another in the afternoon.
2. RED CertificationThis class is two hours long and is offered immediately after the Basic Instruction on the first Thursday of each month. Upon complition of this class, students will be able to use the Machine Shop, but only during business hours and only shen the shop manager is present. RED-certified user will not have after-hours shop access.
The following equipment is available to this group of users:
- All sheet metal equipment (shear, punches and brake)
- All measuring tools (rules, tape measure, calipers and micrometers)
- All hand tools (hammers, screwdrivers, hacksaw, etc)
- Band saws, both vertical and horizontal
- Abrasive saw
- Hydraulic press
- Drill press
- Belt sander and grinding wheels
3. GREEN CertificationThe GREEN certification consists of one-on-one training and may take up to 40 hours to complete, depending on the student. Following the introductory class, students who choose this certification will schedule time to cut stock for their project with the shop manager. They must discuss their projects and the methods they are to use in fabrication with the shop manager prior to the start of the machining process. After that, the studens may come to work on their projects as their schedules allow, any time between 8AM and 11:30AM or 1PM and 3:30PM, Monday through Friday.
The Green certification training is designed to be flexible and to fit around academic classes; however, it is very important that basic competency criteria (see the list) are covered in the class. Students will not be allowed after-hours access to the machine shop until they have proven themselves to be able to handle the machines competently and safely.
Once the GREEN certification is completed, students in SEAS or Physics may use the shop 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Students from other departments are not typically allowed after hours access but may be granted an exception, depending on the circumstances.
All GREEN certified students are allowed to operate all of the equipment available to the RED-certified group as well as the following tools:
- Milling machines
- Lathes
- Surface grinder
4. Additional trainingAdditional training is available to those who wish to operate torches (used for brazing) and coil winding machine. Both RED and GREEN-certified users may sign up for this class.
Other Information
All classes are given to the members
of the Physics Department and SEAS for free, as long as a request
is made on their behalf by their Faculty Advisor. All
others must pay a $150.00 fee for the RED certification class
and $750 for the GREEN certification.
Machinery in the shop will be available on a first come, first served basis. If the equipment needed is unavailable, the student will have to return at a later date to use it.
To sign up for the Machine Shop classes, please fill out the form and submit it electronically to Stan Cotreau ( ). You will receive a confirmation email with the date and time of the next class.