November 4, 2025
By Tracie Troha

Mechanical engineering students looking to gain hands-on experience in machining and manufacturing will have a new opportunity beginning in Spring 2026. The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering will offer ME 4893 – Manufacturing Technology, a new hands-on course that introduces students to the fundamentals of machining, manufacturing processes, and quality control.

“This will be a hands-on class that’s less theory and more practical based,” said Mechanical Engineer III Ashley Andrews, one of the course instructors.

The course combines a one-hour lecture and six hours of lab time in the Montgomery Machining Mall, located on the second floor of the MRDC building in the Wepfer Design Commons (Room 2323). Students will get a comprehensive introduction to subtractive and additive manufacturing while creating a functional, gravity-powered race car from scratch.

The goal is to teach the techniques required to produce multiple identical parts with critical attention to quality and consistency. Students will gain experience in:

• Operating mills and lathes to create high-tolerance metal parts.
• Designing part geometry in CAD and generating toolpaths to machine aluminum chassis on a 3-axis CNC mill.
• Applying tolerancing standards, interpreting engineering drawings, and using various inspection tools to ensure interchangeability and high product quality.
• Designing custom car bodies and producing them with 3D printing.

Students will also learn about shop safety, efficient manufacturing practices, and process optimization. At the end of the semester, there will be a competition where students must optimize their gravity-powered race car to precisely hit a target.

Students will design and 3D print their own unique car body as long as it fits onto the metal frame.

“They can make a Corvette or a Ramblin’ Wreck or anything they want,” said Scott Elliott, machine shop manager.

Professor Jonathan Colton, who developed the course, said it fulfills a long-held goal in the Woodruff School. “We have always wanted to have a course where the students can have practical machining experiences,” he said. “After completing this class, students will be able to understand the machining processes and their limitations from a practical standpoint and be skilled at fabricating parts on both manual and computer-controlled machines.”

Enrollment is limited for the Spring 2026 semester. Students must register for both the lecture (CRN 35193) and machining lab (CRN 35196).