Mechanical Engineering Laboratories

January 2001 marked the opening of the new $35.1 million Engineering and Life Sciences Building (VELS)on the Vancouver Campus. This new building has approximately 40,000 square feet of assignable floor space - primarily labs, but including offices and additional classrooms. Approximately half of the total space is devoted to Engineering Programs. With over $3 million worth of equipment, the Engineering labs in VELS are:

Automation laboratory
(VELS 159)

This laboratory contains various automation hardware, PLCs, servo training systems, lab instruments and high-end PCs. The lab supports research activities and mechatronics courses.

Automation Lab

Circuits and Microprocessors laboratory
(VELS 101)

This laboratory is used to support Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science courses. It contains 13 workbenches with oscilloscopes, function generators, frequency counters, digital multimeters, power supplies and computers

Circuits Lab

Computer-aided design (CAD) laboratory
(VELS 255)

The computer-aided design laboratory contains many high-end PCs, E-size plotter and printer. Various CAD/CAM, Finite Element and mathematical analysis software are available. This laboratory is also a gathering place for many of our students while working on their homework and project assignments.

CAD Lab

Computer-aided engineering (CAE) laboratory
(VELS 251)

The computer-aided engineering laboratory contains a high-resolution Micro Computed Tomography (micro-CT) Scanner, a three-dimensional Laser Scanner, Finite Element Analysis software, Reverse Engineering software, Micro-System Design software and high-end PCs. This lab supports research activities and CAE courses.

CAE Lab

Device diagnostics and microelectronics laboratory
(VELS 155)

The Microelectronics Learning Laboratory consists of approximately 1200 square feet of lab space. The design of the lab accommodates three major functions:

  • IC fabrication
  • Packaging
  • Device diagnostics

Physical layout of the lab includes a class 100 capable clean room for IC fabrication and packaging, two rooms for device analysis, and a specimen preparation room, clustered into a suite around a central foyer. More details

Microelectronics Lab

Manufacturing laboratory
(VELS 154)

The manufacturing lab contains lathes, milling machines, 3-axis CNC machining,a rapid prototying machine, a plastic injection molding machine, a micro machining center, small CNC miling machines and various tools. The lab is used for student projects, research projects and to support lab component of several courses. More details

Manufacturing Lab

Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Laboratory
(VELS 158)

This lab contains instruments for measurement of various material properties and geometric features of manufactured parts. The lab is used for student projects, research projects and course.

Materials Lab

Robotics laboratory
(VELS 163)

This laboratory contains various robotic systems with integrated PLCs, vision systems and conveyor systems. The lab supports research activities and mechatronics courses.

Robotics Lab

Thermo/fluids laboratory
(VELS 160 and 164)

The thermo/fluids laboratory is the newest lab in the School of ecs which is still under development. This lab is currently the house of all the thermo/fluids research activities at WSU Vancouver. The lab development takes a dual-approach targeting both undergraduate and graduate research in Thermodynamics, Fluid Mechanics, and Heat Transfer. More details

Thermo Fluids Lab