The Mechatronics and Robotics program has world-class lab facilities that far exceed those found in other institutes. The equipment is used by all students, reinforcing our committment to hands-on training.
Robotics Lab
One of the highlights of our mechatronics program is our robot applications lab equipped with:
- Bosch conveyor with pneumatic stops, lifts, proximity sensors, transfer station. Students integrate robots with the conveyor. Programming is done in RAPL or Visual Basic/ActiveRobot.
- CRS F3 robot workcell with conveyor and DVT 630 machine vision smart camera. Students program the robot to find parts using the camera, pass the part parameters to the robot via Ethernet, and pick the parts from the conveyor. Programming is done in Visual Basic/ActiveRobot.
- 4 CRS A255 robot arms each equipped with pneumatic part feeders and a variety of sensors.
- Variety of other arms and controllers used for experiments in robot control and programming.
- SCARA robot arm. DC brushed motors, optical encoders, MotenC interface board gives access to encoder signals, limit switches and motor amplifiers. Control software is written by students in C.
- Battery assembly workcell. PLC workcell controller, Yamaha pick-and-place robot, rotary index table, vibratory bowl feeders, pneumatic actuators.
- Router table. Students program toolpaths to route designs. The router is controlled by a Galil motion control card. Programming is done using the Galil language. This entire table including the frame, mechanical components, sensors, motors, and controller was designed and built by students as part of a final term project.
Fluid Power lab
Fluid power is found everywhere in automation. Our well-equipped lab gives excellent hands-on training in pneumatics, hydraulics, and control.
- Festo modular production systems. Equipped with pneumatic cylinders, motors, sensors, programmable logic controller.
- Festo pneumatic training systems.
- Hydraulic trainers.
PLC and Electronics lab
Second year courses in microcontrollers, sensors, and programmable logic controllers (PLCs) are taught in our well-equipped lab which includes:
- Allen Bradley PLC stations. 10 stations equipped with Allen Bradley CompactLogix PLCs. Each station has an elevator simulator with switches, lights, motor, pneumatic actuators, limit switches, and sensors.
- Electronics Test Equipment. 20 stations equipped with 4 channel, color, digital oscilloscopes, power supplies, and function generators.
Feedback Control lab
Learn how to design, simulate, assemble, test, implement, program, and tune motion controllers at one of our eight feedback control workstations. Each station is equipped with ECP torsional plants, digital oscilloscopes, and function generators.
Machine Shop
We have fantastic shops for working with all types of materials. All mechatronics students take a course in manufacturing (MECH 1210) where they spend time on most of the shop equipment. The equipment is available to use for fabricating components for final projects. Equipment includes:
- Computer Numeric Control (CNC): 2 Haas vertical milling machines, Haas toolroom lathe, Mazak SQT 10MS lathe with programmable subspindle and live tools
- Manual machines: numerous milling machines, lathes, bandsaws, drill presses, surface grinder
- Welding: TIG welder, 6 fully-equipped welding stations with stick, MIG, oxy-acetylene
- Casting: Fully equipped casting facility for non-ferrous metals
- Sheet metal: brakes, shears, punches
