Machine Shop
Machine Shop Capabilities
Drexel University has a fully staffed machine shop with a combined industrial and academic experience of more then 123 years.
The shop and its staff specialize in scientific instrumentation, Bio-medical devices, Fabrications of all sizes, we are a multipurpose machining facility capable of meeting all design needs.
Services Provided
5 full-time machinists experienced with all metals and non-metals, plastics, graphite and other materials in the research environment, we are ready to provide you with efficient, quality and cost effective machining.
We have 5 Bridgeport milling machines all with digital readouts. Lathe work from 20inch Diameter and 80inch long to miniature Harding lathe work. Welding of all materials, Alum and stainless steel, is never a problem. We provide MIG, TIG, Stick and Oxy-Acetylene.
We also provide sheet metal work, shearing, bending and fabrication.
Anodizing, plating and other finishes available upon request.
How to Contact Us
Call Mark A Shiber at 1-215-895-2333
Fax 1-215-895-6498
E-mail - Machineshop@Drexel.edu
Hours of Operation
7:00 am to 5:00pm Monday to Friday

Machine Shop Rules
Machining operations are very dangerous. Think. Use common sense. Be careful.
  1. Safety
    1. Safety Glasses:
      Safety glasses must be worn when using machine tools (mill, lathe, drill etc.) and when using manual tools made of high tensile steel such as taps. High tensile steel will can shatter and send chips flying.
    2. Clothing:
      Rotating spindles can catch clothes, hair, gloves and jewelry.
      When using machines with rotating spindles, do not wear long sleeves, pull back long hair (but do not braid), and remove jewelry and anything else that could get caught in the spindle. Do NOT wear gloves.
      Long sleeves, long hair, or jewelry can get caught in the spindle and pull you right into the spindle. Do not braid your hair because if your braided hair gets caught, all your hair gets pulled towards the spindle instead of just a few hairs.
      Sandals are not allowed in the machine shop.
    3. Hearing Protection:
      Use ear protection if you are using a loud machine.
    4. Buddy system:
      Never machine alone. There must always be someone nearby in case you get hurt.
  2. Training
    1. Do not operate a machine until you have been trained. Other qualified users can give training. Read the machine's Operator Manual and/or Technical manual before operating the machine.
    2. Do not disturb someone while they are using a machine. Wait until they have finished machining. Machining is very dangerous and can require concentration. If you interrupt somebody they could make a mistake that leads to an accident.
  3. Lighting
    DC lamps must always be turned on when using any rotating machines. The main fluorescent lights in the machine shop run off the 110 V, 60 Hz electrical supply and effectively strobe at 60 or 120 Hz. Machines that rotate at harmonics of 60 Hz will appear to be stationary. For this reason, all rotating machines in the shop have a DC lamp beside them. Use the lamps! Otherwise you might try to reach for a spindle that looks stationary but is rotating.
  4. Cleanup
    1. Tools must be put away. You are not the only user of the shop. You will waste other peoples time if you don't put tools away in the correct place.
    2. Clean up! When you finish using a machine, clean the machine thoroughly. Coolant should be wiped off and all the chips cleared. If appropriate, lubricate the machine. Leaving machines dirty is rude to the next user and is also bad for the machines. Coolant and chips can get into the moving parts of the machine and cause rust and wear.
    3. Do not use high-pressure air to clean machines. High-pressure air can push chips into the moving parts of the machinery where the chips will wear the machine.
    4. Return all tools, fasteners, and materials to their proper location when you finish work or at the end of the day. Do no leave tools out overnight.
    5. If you are last to leave, check that everything is order. If necessary, sweep the floor and put anything left out away.
  5. Machine use
    Most machines have rules posted beside them. Read them.
    1. Coolant: cutting fluid must be used during all cutting, machining, turning, tapping, and drilling operations to promote proper chip removal and prolong tool life.
    2. Printed circuit boards (PCB's) should not be cut on the band saw. PCB's are made from fiberglass, which dulls the cutting blade very quickly. PCB dust is toxic. You can cut PCB's with shears or with a hacksaw.
    3. Precision instruments (micrometers, rulers, etc.) should never come into contact with each other or with any other surface of equal or greater hardness. i.e. Never put a micrometer on a metal surface. Precision instruments are ground very carefully. Any scratches on their surface make them less accurate and can make them useless.
    4. Tool and machine damage must be reported to Rich Miller or Mark Shiber. If you break a tap, drill, or end mill, order more if they are needed.
  6. Food
    No food in the shop. Drinks must be in containers with non-spill lids.

Machine Shop Safety
Working with machine tools can be hazardous even for experienced machinists. We are fortunate in having these machines available for use; however, they must be used with great care. First, NO ONE IS PERMITTED TO USE THE MACHINE TOOLS WITHOUT THE EXPLICIT PRIOR APPROVAL of either the Director or the Shop supervisor, Second, no one, with the exception, perhaps, of our professional machinist staff, is allowed to work alone with the machine tools. If you want to use the machinery you must be certified as having been trained on any particular machine before you will be allowed use of that machine. In any case, the following safety guidelines should be followed at all times.

Safety Guidelines:
  1. Be sure that all machines have effective and properly working guards and covers, and that they are always in place when machines are operating.
  2. Replace guards immediately after any repairs.
  3. Do not attempt to oil, clean, adjust, or repair any machine while it is running. Stop the machine and lock the power switch in the "OFF" position.
  4. Do not operate any machine unless authorized to do so by the instructor or under the instructor's supervision.
  5. Do not set up or operate machinery when an instructor is not in the shop.
  6. Even after the power is off, do not leave the machine until it has stopped running. Someone else may not notice that it is still in motion and be injured. Do not leave a machine until it has come to a complete stop.
  7. Do not try to stop the machine with your hands or body.
  8. Check tools before use to assure they are safe to use.
  9. Always see that work and cutting tools on any machine are clamped securely before starting to work.
  10. All setscrews should be of the flush or recessed type. If they are not, move with caution when near them. Projecting setscrews are very dangerous because they may catch on sleeves or clothing.
  11. Only one person should operate the machine or switches.
  12. Do not lean against the machine (s).
  13. Concentrate on the work and do not talk unnecessarily while operating the machine.
  14. Do not talk to others when they are operating a machine. A distraction may lead to an injury.
  15. Do not walk behind people operating a machine; you may bump them by accident or startle them and cause an accident.
  16. Always remove gloves before turning on or operating any machine. If material is rough or sharp and gloves must be worn, place or handle material with the machine turned off.
  17. Do not leave tools or work on the table of a machine even if the machine is not running. Tools or work may fall off and cause toe or foot injury.
  18. Use a brush to remove short, discontinuous types of chips--not hands, fingers, or rags.
  19. Use a pair of pliers to remove chips, especially the long, stringy type.
  20. Never handle chips with your hands or fingers. Chips are extremely sharp and can easily cause cuts.
  21. Never use compressed air to clean any machine.
  22. Never use compressed air to clean your clothes or yourself.
  23. If using compressed air to clean a part, point the air hose down and away from yourself and other persons.
  24. Never wear gloves or use rags to clean the work piece or any part of a machine that is running. Rotating tools or parts can grab gloves and rags and pull you into the machine.
  25. Stop the machine tool to make speed and feed changes that require the shifting of a gear lever.
  26. Always use correct speeds and feeds. A broken tool becomes a hazard and can cause great personal injury.
  27. Make sure the machine is OFF before making any adjustments or repairs.

Machine Shop Terminology
Boring Boring is the enlarging of a hole by means of a single-point cutting tool. Boring may be done to obtain a continuous inside diameter, or a stepped, tapered, contoured or recessed diameter. Boring may be performed on either a lathe or a milling machine.
Counter Boring Counter boring is the enlarging of a portion of a hole. Counter boring may be performed on either a lathe or a drilling machine.
Countersinking Countersinking is the process of making a cone shaped enlargement at the entrance of a hole. Countersinking may be performed on either a lathe or a drilling machine.
Drilling Drilling is the making of a hole in a work piece where none previously existed. Drilling may be performed on either a lathe or a drilling machine.
Facing Facing is the process of machining a flat surface across the face of a work piece. The faced surface (usually an end of the work piece) is at right angles to the lathe axis and the part itself. Facing is performed on a lathe.
Reaming Reaming is the enlarging of a hole to accurate size. Reaming must be proceeded by a drilling or boring operation. Reaming may be performed on either a lathe or a drilling machine.
Tapping Tapping is the process of cutting internal threads. Tapping may be performed on either a lathe or a drilling machine.
Threading Threading is the making of a thread on a work piece (such as a screw). Thread cutting can produce either inside or outside threads that are either straight or tapered. Threading is performed on a lathe.
Turning Turning is the removal of material from the outside diameter of a work piece to form a cylindrical surface. The surface may be straight (one continuous diameter), tapered or contoured (as a concentric but irregularly shaped surface). Turning is performed on a lathe.
Conventional Milling Conventional Milling is also called "Up Milling". The direction of the motion of the milling cutter tooth as it engages the work is opposite from the direction of the movement of the work caused by the table feed. Because of this the table and the work piece will never have a tendency to pull towards the work piece because of loss motion between the nut and the table screw.
Climb Milling Climb Milling is also called "Down Milling". The Milling Cutter and the work piece move in the same direction. The velocity of the cutters teeth is greater than the velocity of the table feed, which moves the work into the cutter, producing the chip. This pulls the work piece into the cutter by the action of the cutting forces. This can damage the work piece, cutter, and the Machine.