Specializing in the manufacture of experimental research and prototype apparatuses, the UW Physics Machine Shop is fully equipped to handle most machining, inspection, fabrication, and assembly tasks.
Our highly skilled Instrument Makers have extensive experience machining all conventional materials, exotic alloys, rare-earth metals, plastics, composites, and some ceramics.
Our shops have participated in several major collaborations and experiments around the globe, including:
- The Atlas experiment at CERN
- The Sloan Digital Sky Survey
- Mars Rover components for NASA
Please submit a Work Request for new jobs and refer to the job queueing policy. If you have questions about a job please contact machineshop@uw.edu.
Instrument Shop Manager: Bob Scott, bjs24@uw.edu, 206-685-4266, Office: B076
The UW Physics Machine shop was formerly known as the Physic Instrument Shop.
Student Shop Standard Operating Procedures
Design
Equipped with the latest CAD/CAM software, the UW Physics Machine Shop can reverse engineer and design from sample parts or rudimentary instructions.
Using SolidWorks and Unigraphics, Instrument Makers often design devices from hand-drawn sketches and recommend the proper engineering and materials for the application.
Machining
The UW Physics Machine Shop is a full equipped machine shop complete with turning, milling, grinding, EDM, and honing capabilities.
Processes
- Wire EDM and EDM Drilling
- (Electro-Discharge Machining)
- CNC milling
- CNC turning
- Surface grinding
Capable of
- Holes down to 0.002"
- Slots down to 0.005"
- Threads up to 120 pitch
- True 4-axis milling
- CNC lathe with live tooling
Capacity
- 10-ton crane
- Milling capacity up to 82" x 33" x 29.5"
- Turning capacity up to21" swing x 60" long
- Surface grinding capacity up to 6" x 18"
Fabrication
Fabrication of ultra-high vacuum systems to large steel assemblies is easily accomplished by the UW Physics Machine Shop.
Processes
- Oxygen/Acetylene
- MIG
- TIG
- Spot
- Plasma cutting
- Brazing
- Soldering
Heat Treating
- Box furnace
- Tube furnace
- Oil quenching
- Water quenching
Fine Detail Welding
- Edge welds to 0.003"
- Butt welds to 0.005"
Inspection
In addition to general inspection equipment, the UW Physics Machine Shop has several precision measuring devices and surfaces.
Equipment
- Optical Measuring Scope
- Helium Leak Detector
- Laboratory-grade granite surface plates
- Standard Gauge Blocks and measuring equipment
Optical Measuring Scope Specifications
Volume – 8" x 6" x 8"
Accuracy – 0.00015" / 8"
Magnification – 53x to 270x power
Helium Leak Detector
Accuracy – 1x10-9 std. cc/sec