OVERVIEW
The AMPEL facility is host to a student workshop facility (staffed part-time, and co-sponsored by ICICS, intended for use by AMPEL and ICICS graduate students, faculty and staff. This resource was opened in 2006, in response to a recognition of a broad need for access to physical prototyping capabilities by members of departments who do not traditionally include this in their mandate; and the right kind of access for others which do.
The Student Workshop has two parts: the Machine Shop containing high-precision CNC, large space mills and lathes; and the Small Tools Shop, a garage-sized modelmaking facility on the main AMPEL floor which contains a broad selection of wood, plastics and metalworking equipment.
Both shops are maintained and supervised by a part-time supervisor, through support of AMPEL, ICICS, as well as contributions from several member departments and individual faculty users.
Through early 2007, the Workshop has been available to members of the AMPEL/ICICS community (following orientation and demonstration of skills) for light use free of charge, thanks to institutional contributions. Moderate or heavy use requires appropriate contributions from a supporting research group or administrative unit. However, this funding model is at risk due to insufficient contributions. If you would like to see this facility continue to exist with staffing, please lobby your research supervisor, department or dean to institute, continue or increase their support.
MOTIVATION FOR THE WORKSHOP
Across UBC there is a great deal of student research, by both graduate students and undergrads working in research labs, which requires the iterative prototyping of devices and experiment apparatus to achieve their research goals. However, these students are often in departments without facilities that appropriately support this activity, impeding critical learning experiences as well as the student research itself.
More generally, we posit a major enhancement of insight, empowerment and creativity from physical exploration. Theories of embodied cognition tell us that to build representations of e.g. mathematical concepts, we begin with anenactive stage, prior to obtaining a capacity for iconic and then symbolic representation (Tall, 2003) – yet the latter is where much our education often begins. Correspondingly, learning and conducting physical prototyping activities help students problem-solve from different angles than they do when thinking abstractly. This benefit is overlooked and displaced in the wholesale move to digital tools, and it is a strong argument to encourage direct engagement by our students with physical tools when they need to build apparatus to for science and engineering endeavors.
LOCATION
The AMPEL/ICICS Student Workshop is located in the AMPEL Research Center:
- Machine Shop: Room 125
- Small Tools Shop: Room 124b (main floor, west of the high head area)
CONTACT INFORMATION
Manager: Dieter Schneider
Email: dieter "at" phas.ubc.ca
Office: AMPEL 125 [map]
Phone: (604) 827-4096
Hours: Manager's current weekly hours are posted on the office door
EQUIPMENT
MACHINE SHOP:
- ( NC) TM-1 Toolroom Milling Machine
- ( NC) TL-1 Toolroom Lathe
- Radial Arm Drill Press
- Small Drill Press
- Band Saw
- Bench Grinder
- Belt Sander
SMALL TOOLS SHOP:
- 14" Band Saw
- 10" Mitter Saw
- 10" Table Saw
- 6" Joiner
- Disc Sander
- Edge Sander
- Spindle Sander
- Drill Press
- Bench Grinder
- Router
- Praezi Milling Machine
- Variety of Hand Tools
ACCESS
This facility is for use by AMPEL and ICICS graduate students, staff, and faculty. The workshop is available 24 hours a day via electronic fob. Authorization is granted mutually by the workshop manager and the student's supervisor.
Buddy system: For safety reasons, the facility requires that at least twoindividuals be present at all times during equipment use. Both individuals need to be authorized, and cognizant of safety precautions.
INITIAL ORIENTATION
Individuals seeking use of the workshop are required to attend an initial orientation, regardless of skill level. The orientation presents the workshop equipment and safety procedures. There are separate orientations for the Machine Shop and the Small Tools Shop. This is so that individuals wishing access to only one of the two shops need only attend that specific orientation.
The schedule for orientations is fairly flexible. To register, contact the workshop manager at the e-mail address listed above.
TRAINING
At present, on-site training in the use of the machines is regrettably not available. With additional funding, we would be interested in adding this resource in the future.
WORKSHOP MANAGEMENT
The Workshop is managed by the AMPEL/ICICS Student Workshop Oversight Committe (SWOC) which includes the AMPEL Director and 2-3 additional constituent faculty who represent the AMPEL / ICICS user groups (at least one from each of AMPEL and ICICS).
The Workshop Supervisor works under the general direction of the SWOC. He/she ultimately reports to the AMPEL Director, who is responsible for the host facility. The organizational chart for the facility is detailed below.
WORKSHOP FUNDING: FY 2007/08
As of early 2007, the Student Workshop is being funded through small contributions from AMPEL, ICICS, the Faculty of Science, several user departments (belonging to the AMPEL/ICICS membership) and individual faculty users. In the Workshop's launch year, FY 2006/07, these sources covered the 50% salary costs of the part time shop supervisor and a modest amount of maintenance supplies. We were thus able to provide "open" access for light use from the member departments, reducing administrative overhead.
As we plan for FY 2007/08, this funding model is threatened due to a reduction in contributions. If you are interested in seeing the workshop continue in its current maintained model, please persuade your research unit to contribute to its operating costs.
