Frequently Asked Questions

1. I am not a student in the College of Engineering; can I still use the EFL facilities?
   Generally, the EFL facilities are only open to qualified students of departments within the College of Engineering.  Qualified faculty and staff within the College of Engineering can use the Student Machine Shop as space is available.  Exceptions are generally not allowed, although you may contact the EFL Manager ( Jeffrey L. Feerer ) to see if access can be granted if your department can provide appropriate funding for the facility.
   
   
2. How do I become qualified to use the Student Machine Shop area?
   Students, staff, and faculty of the College of Engineering who want to use the Student Machine Shop area must successfully complete a shop safety/orientation class, or EME 50.
   
   
3. How long is the machine shop safety/orientation class?
   The class consists of two lecture/demonstration periods for a total of 7 hours, typically over a two day period.  Each student is assigned two projects, one on the lathe and one on the mill, which must be satisfactorily completed within one week from the end of the lecture periods.
   
   
4. What training is required to use the Student Project Area?
   An initial safety training session is required to gain access to the Student Project Area.  This training covers the basics of the Injury and Illness Prevention Program (IIPP), the Building Emergency Plan, Emergency Contact Information and Procedures, Hazard Communication, EFL Safety Policy, and Spill Response Guidelines.  In addition, all students must sign a liability waiver form.
   
   
5. Can faculty, staff, or students work on personal projects in the Student  Machine Shop?
   Faculty and staff are prohibited by university policy from working on personal projects using university facilities or equipment.  Students are allowed to work on an occasional small personal project, at the discretion of the EFL Manager, which furthers the educational goal of learning the principles of machine design and fabrication.
   
   
6. I have received previous machine shop training or experience from outside the College of Engineering.  Do I still need to complete the machine shop safety/orientation course?
   Yes.  All staff, faculty, and students, regardless of previous experience or training, must complete the machine shop safety/orientation course or EME 50 before access to the Student Shop can be allowed.
   
   
7. I completed the machine shop safety/orientation course a few years ago, but I have not used the Student Machine Shop since that time.  Now I would like to use the shop facilities.  Do I need to repeat the machine shop safety/orientation course?
   Generally, yes, the course must be repeated since such a long period has elapsed since you have had exposure to a machine shop environment.
   
   
8. I am a student in Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering (MAE), and I would like to have access to the Student Shop, but I have not yet completed EME 50.  Can I obtain access to the shop by taking the machine shop safety/orientation course?
   All MAE students must take EME 50 as a graduation requirement.  Normally, MAE students would not take the machine shop safety/orientation course since they will take EME 50.  Occasionally, MAE students have taken the shop safety/orientation course if they will be participating in a student competition project.  Please see the EFL Manager ( Jeffrey L. Feerer ) to discuss your situation before you enroll in the shop safety/orientation course.
   
   
9. I want to volunteer for a student competition team, but I am not associated with UC Davis.  Can I still obtain access to the Student Project Area and the Student Machine Shop if I complete the appropriate training?
   No.  We cannot allow anyone not associated with UC Davis to have access to the Student Machine Shop or the Student Project Area due to safety, liability, security, and training resource concerns.  Perhaps you can still volunteer for the competition team and instead work on fund raising, project planning, or other administrative tasks.
   
   
10. A fabrication will require machine skills that I do not yet have, can the Student Machine Shop lead or other staff machine the part for me?
    The Student Machine Shop Lead will attempt to show you how to machine your part as long as there is a goal of having you machine your own part using newly acquired skills.  In general, if you have a fabrication need that is far outside your current capabilities, then you must submit a work order to the BAE Shop to have professional machinists and welders make the part for you.
    
    
11. I have contacted the BAE Shop to fabricate a part for my research, but their lead time is too long.  Can I arrange to have this part fabricated by EFL staff?
    No.  The EFL staff are only involved with instructional activities directly associated with the EFL facilities.  The lead time in the BAE Shop varies, and may shorten significantly if projects are completed faster than anticipated.  Alternatively, you may want to contact off-campus machine shops to determine if their lead time would be more satisfactory to you.
    
    
12. I would like to learn how to TIG weld.  Can the EFL staff teach me?
    Becoming proficient in Tungsten Inert Gas (TIG) welding takes much instruction and time.  Unfortunately, due to limitations of staff resources, the EFL staff cannot devote enough time to teach a novice to learn TIG welding.  Metal Inert Gas (MIG) welding is much easier to learn, and most people can MIG weld satisfactorily for most applications with a few hours of practice.
    
    
13. The part that I want to fabricate will require the use of Electrical Discharge Machining (EDM).  Can I learn how to use the EDM in the Student Machine Shop?
    No, the EDM does not belong to the EFL, so its use is restricted by the research group to which it belongs.  If your part can only be made by EDM, then you may need to send the part to an off-campus machine shop.  The Student Machine Shop lead can provide contact information for suitable local machine shops that have EDM capabilities.