Laboratories/Facilities

The Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering has seven laboratories for instruction in courses related to the degree requirements in industrial engineering. Their descriptions are given below:

Automation Laboratory The laboratory is equipped with two CNC milling machines, a CNC lathe, an automated storage and retrieval system, testing equipment and devices that support undergraduate courses (e.g., Manufacturing Processes and Design I and II). There are also two ROS stations for robot to robot communication and control applications.  This lab is also home to a number of machines and systems that were developed in the prior student design projects (including two autonomous tennis ball collectors, a soccer ball collector). This equipment is used for departmental tours and for lecturing Design I classes. The laboratory has a prototype sheet-folding machine capable of folding creative patterns for different applications.

Manufacturing Processes Laboratory Basic machine tools such as turning, milling, drilling, grinding, and measuring machines are available to help the student become familiar with metal-processing operations. In AY 2016-2017 the Department of Industrial and Systems Engineering acquired two CNC machines: conversational milling and turning machines.  It also acquired an array of 3-D printing machines that are frequently used in undergraduate courses and design projects. The equipment is also used to perform laboratory experiments in heat treatment, chip formation, tool life, cutting forces, temperature, chip metallurgy, and power consumption.

Advanced Simulation Laboratory This laboratory is intended to serve student term projects in the areas of simulation, design, statistical modeling and machine learning. With access to large screens, fast computers and different media tools the students are able to analyze and simulate large volume of data and build models using R, Phyton, MATLAB, ARENA, LINDO, and other commercial tools. The lab also includes 3D modeling tools such as Solid-Works and FactoryTalk for student projects. There is also an PLC server that can be connected to remote devices and robots for real time motion and supervisory controls, and for cyber-physical systems controls. This PLC is usually used in two or three student design projects every year.

Quality and Reliability Engineering Laboratory This laboratory allows students to have hands-on experience in actual methods of quality control and reliability engineering. Software for control charts (the ISE Department acquired licenses for statistical software such as JMP sampling plans, and design of experiments is available. The laboratory has a wide array of materials testing equipment, roundness measurement equipment, temperature chambers, vibration tests, and power programmable controller equipment.

Computer Control and Mechatronics Laboratory  This laboratory is intended to provide students with hands on experience in motion and supervisory controls. With WiFi connection to the ISE remote PLC and host of PLCs and instructional kits (with motors, sensors, I/O boards) in the lab where students are able to work on hands -on projects that involve control of devices, motors, actuators, and higher level supervisory controls. This lab is used primarily for the Computer Control course and its lab. The lab also includes a small scale physical simulation of IOT sensors and devices for student projects.

Design Laboratory The ISE Department has had its own design space for student design projects until AY 2017-208.  While some of this space will still be available to the ISE student design projects, starting Fall of 2018, there will be additional shared design space in the new School of Engineering Building.  The new space will be shared between ISE and MAE design projects.  The shared space is intended to promote interdisciplinary design activities and will include primary tools that can be used for system assembly and testing, with remote access to other department resources.