ET Labs

Our department labs are designed to give students hands-on opportunities to keep up with ever changing times and technology. These experiences in addition to class-room instruction are an excellent recipe for success in the real world. We offer the following labs:

• Electro-mechanical Lab
• Machining and Metrology
• Rapid-Prototyping Technology
• Occupational Health and Safety Lab
• Robotics Lab
• CADD Lab:
  Instructions for using the Plotter
  Instructions for creating a Poster
• Mechanical Engineering Technology
• Power Lab

Basic Lab, VET 176

The basic lab serves students who are enrolled in ET 3601, Electrical Circuit Analysis I (DC), and ET 3602, Electrical Circuit Analysis II (AC).

The lab is equipped with 12 stations, each accommodates 2 students. Two additional stations were added recently (Jan. 2006) in order to accommodate up to 28 students. Each station is equipped with the followings (the two new stations are being equipped):

1. Internet-connected PC, (recently replaced Aug 2005) loaded with:

1. MultiSim (Electronics Workbench) simulation software.
2. Ultiboard (CAD software for Printed Circuit Boards).
3. MindJet (MindMapping) software.
4. MS Office 2003.

2. Triple outputs Tektronix power supply.

3. Four digital multimeters (4.5 and 3.5 digits), two of which were purchased recently.

4. 2-MHz Sweep function generator.

5. 40 MHz two-channel analog oscilloscope.

6. Breadboards, potentiometers, jumper wires, etc.

The basic lab has also a small collection of reference materials and manuals.

Power Lab and LAN Lab

Two years ago, there was a major reorganization and renovation on the laboratories in the ET area. The new power lab has more space (a total of 1100 plus ft ²) and better looking now. This lab serves as the lab facility for ET4600 (Programmable Logic Controllers), ET 4610 (Instrumentation and Controls), ET 4640 (Industrial Electricity), and ET4802 (Senior Problem in Engineering Technology). In the last six years, many pieces of new equipment and software have been purchased for the power lab. These include:

• Three 8'x3' workbenches
• Three digital oscilloscopes
• Three digital meters
• Three function generators
• Three tri-output power supplies
• Two electric motor trainers
• Twenty-two PCs
• Three laser-jet printers
• Two ink-jet printers
• Fifteen Allen-Bradley SLC 5-04/5-05 PLC trainers
• Seventeen copies of Rockwell RSLogix-500 PLC software
• Ten copies of LABVIEW software
• Ten NI USB-6008 interface modules
• One NI-SC-2075 Interface board
• Three digital tachometers

Robotics Laboratory

This laboratory serves ET-4860 and many student and faculty projects

The Robotics laboratory houses:

• 1 Mitsubishi RV-M1 industrial robot with controller

• 1 electric two-finger gripper with variable pressure control

• 1 1200-mm robot linear track with controller

• 1 signal interface and multiplexer

• 1 teach pendant with emergency button

• 1 PC loaded with Roboware with I/O capabilities

In addition to the robotic system described above, the ET program has recently purchased;

• 15 Handyboard circuits - based on M68HC11 microprocessor

• 15 robotics LEGO set to be used for mobile applications

• Various light, sound, and touch sensors to be used in mobile applications

• 15 Robotics textbooks - Robotics Explorations by Fred Martin - provided to students

• The Handyboard-based robotics activities use Interactive C language for programming. Almost half of the current robotics course (ET-4860) utilizes the Handyboard circuit, which in turn require many session of computer programming.

Fluid Power Laboratory

This laboratory serves ET-4850 and many student and faculty projects

The Fluid Power laboratory houses:

• Two one-sided hydraulic trainers and

• Two two-sided pneumatic trainers

HYDRAULIC TRAINING SYSTEM

The hydraulic trainers each include

Hardware:

• One-gpm gear pump rated at 2000 psi

• Pressure relief valves

• Floe meters

• Three Directional control valves - manual

• Three Directional control valves - electric

• Flow control valves - check valves

• Flow control valves - needle valves

• Three hydraulic cylinders

• Accumulator

• Three oil-filled pressure gauges

• Extra fluid manifolds

• Connecting hydraulic hoses

• Electric panel which includes

• Open and close contacts

• Timers

• Power supply

• Indicator lights

• Connecting circuitry

Software:

Automation Studio ver. 5.3 (six seats) are installed in VET 118. We have secured funding for additional copies

PNEUMATIC TRAINING SYSTEM (purchased in 2003-2004)

Hardware:

All components are FESTO first line, industrial grade quality and ISO compatible. Quick disconnects provide fast assembly and disassembly of circuits without the use of hand tools. The components operate on normal shop air (90psi). The plastic tubing used for circuit hook

up use kink-resistant PUN_4 x 0.75 polyurethane, 4mm ID tubing. The air manifold is check valve protected with an emergency dump valve built in. The Basic Pneumatic component set contains the following items:

• 2 151496 Plastic tubing, 10 m, PUN 4 x 0.75
• 3 152860 3/2_way valve with push button, directly actuated, normally closed, with spring return
• 1 152861 3/2_way valve with push button, directly actuated, normally open, with spring return
• 1 152862 5/2_way valve with selector switch, directly actuated, with spring return

• 2 152865 Pressure gauge, 0 _ 10 bar, 40 mm diameter dial

• 3 152866 3/2_way roller lever valve, directly actuated, normally closed, with spring return
• 1 152867 3/2_way idle return roller lever valve, directly actuated, normally closed, with spring return
• 1 152872 5/2_way pneumatic valve, pneumatically actuated on one side, with spring return

• 3 152873 5/2_way pneumatic valve, pneumatically actuated on both sides

• 1 152875 Shuttle valve (OR), with two inputs for the "OR" logic function

• 1 152876 Dual_pressure valve (AND), with two inputs for the "AND" logic function

• 1 152879 Time delay valve, pneumatically actuated, adjustable 0 ... 5 sec., normally closed

• 1 152880 Quick exhaust valve, increases piston speed, reduces stroke reversal time, exhaust noise reduced by silencer
• 2 152881 One_way flow control valve, adjustable, controls speed of cylinder piston, effects short delays in signal transmission
• 1 152884 Pressure sequence valve, with adjustable switching head, mounted on 3/2_way valve normally closed
• 1 152887 Single acting cylinder, with stainless steel piston rod and barrel, piston diameter 20 mm, stroke length 50 mm, with trip cam and magnetic piston to actuate sensors and signal
• 2 152888 Double acting cylinder, with stainless steel piston rod and barrel, piston diameter 20 mm, stroke length 100 mm with trip cam and magnetic piston to actuate sensors and signal

• 1 152894 On/off valve with filter regulator, for unlubricated compressed air supply, the main line can be switched on or off, the system is vented when switched off

• 1 152895 Pressure regulator with pressure gauge, control range 0 ... 12 bar, range of indication 0 ... 16

• 1 152896 Manifold, 8 connections with self_closing plug_in coupling

• 1 152898 Connection components kit, 8 pieces, quick push_pull connectors

• 10 153128 Quick push-pull distributor

ADVANCED PNEUMATIC PORTION

The advanced pneumatic portion is designed and manufactured to provide continued study from the basic pneumatic curriculum.

Hardware set contains the following:

• 20 153128 Quick push_pull distributor
• 1 150519 Adapter for spindle drive
• 2 151496 Plastic tubing, 10 m, internal diameter 3 mm external diameter 4 mm
• 2 152860 3/2_way valve with push button, directly actuated, normally closed, with spring return
• 1 152863 3/2_way valve with selector switch, directly actuated, with spring return
• 1 152864 3/2_way valve with red mushroom actuator, directly actuated, normally closed with spring
• 3 152866 3/2_way roller lever valve, directly actuated, normally closed, with spring return
• 1 152868 Back-pressure valve
• 3 152870 Pneumatic proximity switch
• 2 152871 3/2_way pneumatic valve, pneumatically actuated on one side, with spring return
• 2 152872 5/2_way pneumatic valve, pneumatically actuated on one side, with spring return
• 3 152873 5/2-way double pilot valve, pneumatic actuated, both sides
• 1 152877 Pneumatic pre_selection counter, counts from a predetermined value to zero, output
• 1 152878 Time-delay valve, neutral open
• 2 152881 One-way flow control valve, adjustable, controls speed of cylinder piston, effects short delays in signal transmission

• 2 152882 Shuttle valve (OR), with 3 separate "OR" elements

• 1 152883 Dual Pressure valve (AND), with 3 separate "AND" elements

• 1 152885 Stepper module, 4 stepper modules TAA with connection to reset all memories simultaneously
• 1 152886 Stepper module, 3 stepper modules TAA, 1 stepper module TAB with separate memory resetting
• 1 152890 Linear drive, pneumatic
• 1 152891 Vacuum nozzle / suction cup
• 1 152892 Adjustable vacuum control

• 1 152898 Connection components kit, 8 pieces, quick push_pull connectors

• 1 120763 Equipment Tray

ELECTRO_PNEUMATIC PORTION

The Electro_Pneumatic portion is designed as an add-on component/software package to teach modern electro_pneumatic control technology. All components are compatible and interchangeable with the basic/advanced pneumatics training packages.

• 1 162241 Relay unit, three fold, each with 4 change_over contacts, power supply and earth contact rail
• 1 162242 Signal input, electrical, 3 illuminated push buttons, one detented, power supply earth rail, earth contact rail each with 2 normally open and 2 normally closed contacts
• 2 162244 Signaling device and distributor, electrical, 8 optical displays, acoustic buzzer, power supply rail and earth contact rail
• 2 167060 Proximity sensor, inductive, for mounting on cylinder suitable for
• contactless sensing, with connection cable
• 1 167073 3/2_way solenoid valve with LED, normally closed, spring return, manual override, electrical connections for laboratory and jack plugs ( 2_pin )
• 2 167074 5/2_way solenoid valve with LED, spring return, manual override, indirectly actuated, electrical connections for laboratory and jack plug ( 2_pin )
• 1 167076 5/2_way double solenoid valve with LED, indirectly actuated on both sides, manual override, electrical connections for laboratory and jack plugs ( 2_pin )
• 1 177459 Pneumatic_electric converter, for the conversion of pressure signals, differential pressure signals and vacuum signals into electrical signals, pressure range 0.25 ... 8 bar, vacuum switch _0.2..._0.8 bar.
• 1 183322 Limit switch, electrical, actuated via trip cams from the left, spring return, 1changeover contact, connections for laboratory and jack plugs
• 1 183345 Limit switch, electrical, actuation via trip cams from the right, with spring return, 1 changeover switch, connections for laboratory and jack plugs
• 1 120773 Equipment Tray

ADVANCED ELECTRO_PNEUMATIC PORTION

The Advanced Electro_Pneumatic portion is designed as a component add-on package to teach a higher level of electro_pneumatic control technology. The Advanced Electro_pneumatics training package contains the following items:

• 4 162241 Relay, three fold
• 1 162242 Signal input, electrical
• 1 162243 Three relay unit, two fold, 1 relay for switch on delay, I relay for switch off delay, each with 2 normally open and 2 normally closed contacts, power supply and earth contact rail
• 1 162355 Pre-selection counter, electrical incrementing, 3 digit, electrical or manual reset, 1 changeover contact, power supply and earth contact rail
• 2 167076 5/2-way double solenoid valve with LED
• 1 178574 Proximity sensor, inductive, nominal switching distance (with mild steel) 4 mm, switching frequency max.1800Hz, with built-in protective circuit and LED, electrical connections for laboratory and jack plugs (2_pin)
• 1 178575 Proximity sensor, capacitive, nominal switching distance max. 6 mm, switching frequency 1.5 kHz, with (1) built_in protective circuit and LED, electrical connections for laboratory and jack plugs ( 2_pin )
• 1 178577 Proximity sensor, optical, nominal switching distance 100 mm, switching frequency max. 200 Hz, with integrated emitter and receiver, built_in protective circuit and LED, electrical connections for laboratory and jack plugs ( 2_pin )
• 1 183347 EMERGENCY STOP button, Electrical, red mushroom actuator, with connections, 1 normally open contact, 1 normally closed contact
• 1 120765 Equipment Tray

Software:

Automation Studio ver. 5.3 (six seats) are installed in VIS 118. We have secured funding for additional copies

Engineering Technology (ET) CADD Facility

In Spring 2001 we moved to room MGB 201, our new Computer-Assisted Drafting and Design (CADD) lab in the Midgett Building. Thanks to the technology access fee and other sources of funding, now we have a renovated and well-equipped CADD lab. This lab has several features including thirty six Pentium 2.8 and 3.2 GHz student workstations and five printers. Internet access is provided to all computers and printers, enabling students to send files directly to the printers. The three inkjet printers and one LaserJet printer can produce letter (A) and tabloid (B) size color prints/plots. The large DesignJet printer can produce A-E size color plots/posters.

The CADD lab is also a master classroom that will allow us to teach other courses and use Web-enhanced instruction. The multimedia workstation and the overhead LCD color projector help us teach CADD interactively and effectively. We have one workstation on a cart for the use of instructors and students to install and test new software. We teach ET 2310 - CADD I (two-dimensional CADD), ET 3360 - CADD II (3D or solid modeling) and ET 4330 - Advanced CAD. We have an annually renewable site license from AutoDesk Design Institute (ADI) to install several CADD software including AutoCAD, Inventor, Revit, Electrical and Mechanical Building Systems, and AutoCAD - Electrical. We receive software upgrades from ADI as and when they become available. Recently, we received a grant to install the 3D modeling software, SolidWorks in the CADD lab computers and several other workstations in the ETIS department. Additionally, MS Office has been installed in all computers. We teach AutoCAD in ET 2310 and Inventor in ET 3360. ET 4330 is mainly a project-based course in which students use Inventor, SolidWorks and Revit to work on their projects.

Machine Shop:

• Fadal3016 4-axis machining center with extended Z
• Updated retrofit CNC capabilities for Bridgeport mills
• Sratasys 3-D prototype machine (Build models with ABS plastic)
• Z-Corp (model 406) Rapid-prototype machine
• Computer-controlled optical comparator for Metrology lab
• Picza 3-D laser scanner for reverse-engineering capabilities
• Dedicated designing Work station computer with latest CADD and CAD/CAM software
• Upon the recommendation of the ABET accreditation committee, a Lab Technician position was created and filled in August 2000. He has since earned his MS degree
• (Aug.2004) in Engineering Technology. The Lab Tech. has recently(January 2005) been promoted to Director, Mechanical/Electro-Mechanical Labs. He has designed several student projects incorporated into instructors lab classes and or research, one of which earned 1 st place in the Mastercam CNC software "2005 Wildest Part Competition" instructor division
• Rooms 120 and 170 are dedicated rooms assigned as student Experimental Vehicle
• Program production. They are outfitted with computers having the latest CADD software.
• Room 170 has T .I.G. aluminum and steel welding capabilities and M.I.G. wire welding capabilities.