Re: Machine Shop?

["Michael N. Monce" <mnmon@conncoll.edu>]

On Tue, 18 Mar 1997, Martha Takats wrote:

> During a building renovation, we are considering getting rid of our 
> departmental machine shop (the room could be converted to something 
> else) -- at the moment, it doesn't get much use, and we would have 
> access to tools elsewhere on campus.  We are a 3-1/2 person department; 
> we do have students doing research much of the time. My question is: do 
> those of you in similar situations feel that a machine shop is useful, 
> valuable, necessary in a college department of this size?
> -- 
> Martha Takats
> Department of Physics and Astronomy
> Ursinus College
> Collegeville, PA 19426


	We moved into a new building a year and half ago and insisted on a
machine shop in the plans.  It has already proved to be an invaluable
resource.  It serves not only physics but the rest of the sciences as
well.  We were also able to get a grant to equip the shop.  However, the
most valuable part of the facility is the person who occupies it.  We have
a part time machinist who organizes and runs the shop.  He is the real
resource!  Not only is he an excellent machinist, he can also do design
work which relieves the faculty of a lot of time spent on such things.  He
currently has a backlog of about a year of projects from all the
departments.  I believe that such a facility is necessary for any college
seriously persuing undergraduate research.

				Mike Monce
				Connecticut College