Departmental facilities are located in both Anderson Hall and Bray Laboratory. Brief descriptions of each facility including those faculty and staff involved in their operation are listed below.

Acoustics and Vibrations Laboratory

Bray 107, 108, and 204
This laboratory is dedicated to the study of acoustics, noise and vibration control. Equipment includes state-of-the-art microphones and accelerometers for acoustic and vibration measurement, vibration and impact exciters, a laser Doppler velocimetry system, a dedicated real time control system, and a variety of measurement instruments, including computer-based data acquisition systems.  Current research involves active vibration suppression systems, experimental cochlear biomechanics, vibration characterization of MicroElectroMechanical Systems (Prof. White) and speaker enclosures (Profs. Greif and Nelson).

Blake-Perlman Computer Laboratory

Anderson 022
The Department maintains a Computational Mechanics Studio. The facility includes numerous Unix-based workstations, personal computers, color graphic display and hard copy devices and high speed links to on-campus computers and national computer networks including the NSF Supercomputing network and Internet. The studio is used with faculty supervision for course related work and research.

Burstein Family Prototyping Facility

Bray 114A
The Burstein Family Prototyping Facility is an educational facility with the support of the Burstein Family and the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Its state of the art facilities include Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining centers, as well as 3-D printing machines for Rapid Prototyping of solid parts directly from CAD files. This equipment is used by students in industry-funded projects, for the development of complex shape tooling parts, processes and integrated machines with embedded intelligence.

Bio-MEMs Laboratory

200 Boston Ave - Suite 2700/2800
This laboratory introduces students at all levels to the interdisciplinary research area of Bio-MEMS (biologically-related microelectromechanical systems) which include concepts in fluid flow, heat transfer, and design.  This laboratory emphasizes research using a variety of means of producing MEMS devices: laser etched, micromolding, organic components, and outsourced foundries and services.  (Prof. Wong)
 

Ergonomics in Remote Environments Lab (EREL)

 Science & Technology Center 156
EREL is a research laboratory focused on human factors engineering and human-centered design of complex medical systems for minimally invasive surgical procedures.  (Prof. Cao)

High Speed Video Analysis Laboratory

Bray 221

High speed imaging equipment includes a color Vision Research camera system with acquisition rates to 160,000 frames per second, tripods and mounting hardware, lighting and computer download interface equipment.  Digital images may be converted to tif or jpeg format for analysis.

Human Factors Usability Laboratory

Anderson 001

The usability lab is used for instruction and research in usability engineering, interface design, and human-computer interaction.  (Prof. Cao)

Machine Shop

Bray 114
The machine shop is equipped with several manual and computer-controlled machines. The shop is directed by a professional machinist (Mr. Hoffman) and includes an industrial scale CNC machine. The facility is used for teaching as well as fabrication of equipment used in research and design projects. The procedures and policies for using the Machine Shop are described in a booklet available in the Department office or at the Machine Shop. (Prof. Matson and Mr. Hoffman)

Materials Characterization Facility

Bray 113
This laboratory houses state-of-the-art computational and experimental facilities to characterize materials through microscopic evaluation.  Materials characterization and metrology capabilities include a microhardness microscope, an ellipsometer, and optical microcropy facilities with sample preparation equipment.  (Prof. Matson and Saigal)

Materials Testing Laboratory

Bray 101
This laboratory is used for both instruction and research in static and dynamic mechanical characterization of materials. Advanced instrumentation includes an Instron Model 4505 Universal Testing Instrument with digital control and thermal test chamber with data acquisition system as well as smaller scale materials testing apparatus. Current research focuses on composite materials including metals and metal matrix composites. (Profs. Leisk and Saigal).

Mechatronics Laboratory

Bray 102
This laboratory is used for instruction in automation and projects focused on developing mechatronic control (the interdisciplinary application of distributed mechanical and electronic components) to a variety of applications including biomedical devices.

Micro- and Nano-Fabrication Facility

200 Boston Ave. Suite 2850

This laboratory is a fabrication facility for microscale mechanical systems including microfluidics, micro-electro-mechanical systems (MEMS), and bioMEMS. The facility includes a controlled environment (cleanroom) expected to meet ISO-14644 Class 5 (Fed. Std. 209DClass 1000). Equipment housed in the laboratory provides photolithography, metrology, and packaging capabilities as well as limited thin film deposition and etching abilities. Both teaching and research are conducted in this facility, and it is open to researchers from around Tufts, pending completion of access requirements listed on the website.  (Profs. White and Wong)

Thermal-Fluid Dynamics and Processes Laboratory

Bray 207
This laboratory, which is equipped with anemometry and temperature measurement as well as data acquisition systems, is used for thermal-fluid science class demonstration labs and undergraduate and graduate research projects in fluid mechanics and heat transfer. Current research includes characterization of dental resin materials and design of biomedical devices such as catheters. (Prof. Abedian)

 

Thermal Manufacturing Automation Laboratory

Bray110
This laboratory was created to take advantage of advances in modern automation and control and apply them to advanced manufacturing processes. Lab facilities include a 300W Nd:YAG laser with fiber optics delivery, a plasma-arc welding and cutting setup, a gas-tungsten arc welding supply and an ultrasonic welding facility. Other equipment include a high precision X-Y positioner table, an articulated 6 dof process robot, and a SCARA 4 dof assembly robot. Sensing facilities consist of an infrared pyrometry camera, a 3-D optical laser scanner system and complete computer support for off-line image analysis and real time feedback control. Current projects are focused on scan welding, rapid prototyping, and Thermal Manufacturing process characterization.

Tufts University Fluid Turbulence Lab - (TUFTL)

Anderson 023
TUFTL facilities include state-of-the-art imaging and laser-based flow diagnostic equipment, a two-component, fiber-based laser-Doppler anemometer capable of high accuracy single point velocity measurements and a digital particle image velocimetry system capable of measuring instantaneous velocities.  The TUFTL laboratories also include a Trotec laser cutter for the engraving and processing acrylic parts and a hand-help 3D scanning system, both used for the rapid prototyping of robotic and mechanical parts.  Current projects include studies of particle-laden turbulent flows, chemical mechanical planarization and flow visualization in manufacturing processes. (Prof. Rogers)

Undergraduate Teaching Laboratory

Bray 112
The main undergraduate laboratory is used for the required undergraduate laboratory course, ME 18-Mechanical Engineering Laboratory, as well as other courses and projects. The facility is equipped with state-of-the-art automated experiment and data acquisition stations. (Mr. Miraglia and Prof. Rogers)

Affiliated Facilities:

Center for Engineering Educational Outreach

Curtis Hall, www.ceeo.tufts.edu
The Center for Engineering Educational Outreach is the umbrella organization for the outreach efforts of the College of Engineering and K-12 educational organizations, including schools, teachers, publishers, and sponsoring organizations. Current projects include primary and middle school science teacher workshops, the development of learning tools using Lego Bricks and software built using the National Instruments LabVIEW platform, and an editorial partnership with Prentice Hall to develop innovative middle school science texts.  (Prof. Rogers)

Engineering Project Development Center

Anderson Hall
The Engineering Project Development Center (EPDC) is a new facility at Tufts University designed to support the undergraduate engineering curriculum. This facility is a start-to-finish project center which enables students to take their projects from the initial "idea stage" to the "final product and presentation stage" with a Teamwork Area, Computational Design Studio, Prototype Development Shop, Presentation Preparation Studio, and Video Teleconferencing Room. (Ms. Leah Friedberg)

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