Polaris Student Machine Shop
How to access the machine shop:
- Shop Access: Walk in during staffed hours! No appointment necessary. If the door is closed, knock loudly! Talk to staff in the Anderson Design Lab (ME 2-134) if nobody is available.
Waterjet Access:
***Summer 2026: Waterjet is walk-in only. Appointments are not available.***
Fall/Spring Access: Use the link below to schedule an appointment to use the waterjet cutter.
Additional information
The purpose of the Polaris Student Machine Shop is to give CSE students a well-equipped and safe environment to work on projects related to their CSE course work. The shop is part of the Anderson Student Innovation Labs.
Training
Talk to the shop staff during open hours or email [email protected] or [email protected] for machine training. Our shop staff typically just train you to use the equipment you need for your project. If you're interested in learning a piece of equipment for the sake of learning, please reach out to Ian Wallace ([email protected]). If you don't have a design in mind, we have designs and material for "training parts" for the manual milling machines and lathes.
CNC Training Note: The Haas CNC mills and lathe are powerful, complicated, and expensive, so access to those machines requires significant training! If you want to make something with the CNC machines, start by talking to or emailing Ian Wallace ([email protected]). Ian will have you follow these steps to access the machines:
- Step 1: Learn basic manual milling operations - Before touching a CNC mill, you need to know how to use a manual mill. At a minimum, you need to know how to install a tool, set the speed, fixture a part in a vise using parallels, mill a face, mill a slot, mill a feature to a specific dimension using the machine dials and the digital readouts, and use an edge finder to drill an accurate hole. If you don't have a part in mind, talk to Ian or the student staff and they will have you make the mill training part.
- Step 2: Learn more advanced milling techniques and spend more time milling - Learn how to fixture a part to the t-slot table and use a dial indicator to tram a vise. Mill a second part with less direct staff input.
- Step 3: Mill a test part on your own - Make a part from a drawing with no staff input.
- Step 4: Learn basic CNC mill operations - Learn to use Feature CAM and learn to mill a pocket.
Once you've completed these four steps, you can use the CNC mills for more complicated parts, but you must have your designs and CAM checked by Ian before using the machines. The CNC lathe requires even more CAM training and you must work closely with Ian for access.
Equipment
The machine shop features manual and CNC milling machines, manual and CNC lathes, a waterjet cutter, saws, taps, drills, precision measuring equipment, and more!
Email [email protected] for more details.
Shop rules
- First time visitors are required to receive a general shop safety briefing and sign an access agreement.
- Please bring drawings or sketches of your project if possible. Talk to staff if you need help getting started on a design.
- All types of projects are welcome in the Polaris Machine Shop, but we do prioritize CSE academic projects when things get busy. The priority order for projects goes:
- Undergraduate and graduate CSE course related projects
- CSE student group projects
- CSE research projects. NOTE: Small, simple research jobs (ex: mill a slot, drill a few holes, turn a groove in a shaft, waterjet one sheet of material, etc.) are allowed, but researchers should generally use the CSE Shop for anything more complicated or for batches of more than 10 parts. The CNC mills and CNC lathe in the Polaris shop are not available for research projects. If your research project requires CNC machining, please speak to the CSE Shop.
- Personal projects and non-CSE projects
- Remove rings, watches, and any jewelry before starting work. Safety glasses with side shields or appropriate goggles are required. Open toe shoes or sandals are not allowed. Shorts are not recommended. Avoid wearing loose clothing and tie hair back if necessary to avoid getting it caught in rotating equipment.
- You must discuss your work with one of the shop supervisors before using any machines. If you have interrupted your machine use by leaving the shop or wish to change machines, check with supervisor prior to that change or continuation of your work. Report any tool damage or broken tools to staff. Do not use broken tools!
- Report any injuries to the shop supervisor.
Please clean up after yourself. Tools must be returned to their proper storage locations after use. Machines and work areas must be cleaned after use!
Safety glasses
Department policy, as well as state law, requires safety glasses with side shields to be be worn in the Polaris Student Machine Shop. There is a limited assortment of safety glasses available for use in the student shop, but users are encouraged to purchase their own. Boynton Health Service Eye Clinic has a "Safety Eyewear Program" where individuals may purchase prescription as well as non-prescription safety eyewear.