Knox Physics Shop

The Knox Physics Shop houses equipment for metal and woodworking, as well as for the development and repair of electronic equipment. Clarence Kuster, the Science Technician, is in charge. There is an ample supply of metal stock, and many many drawers of useful items for electronics construction. This equipment supports the teaching laboratories and all the research groups in the science building. We find we can construct most items necessary for our work in house. Students in Physics 241 (Techniques of Experimental Physics) receive training in the proper use of the machines in the metal shop.

For metal working, our workhorse machine is the standard Bridgeport R-8 Mill.

The Van Norman Mill offers a slightly different geometry appropriate for certain tasks.

Our moderate sized lathe is equipped with a quick-release chuck (not mounted in this picture).

There are a number of drills and drill presses.

Of course, there is also a band saw (perhaps the most dangerous machine in the shop!), and behind it you can see the large shear and the bending brake, both for sheet metal work.

Anyone who has worked on instrument development knows the value of having lots of stock on hand:

And finally, but certainly not least, is Clarence Kuster in the electronics repair area:

Electronics work is supported by drawer after drawer of capacitors, resistors, IC's, connectors, etc, only some of which are shown here.