Support Machining Services

Please note that work will be prioritized as follows:

1. Support for COVID-19 research
2. Course instruction involvement and teaching support for MECH and MANU
3. Research support for MECH
4. Operations support for MECH
5. Approved MECH Student Groups support
6. Requests external to MECH (sub-prioritized for teaching, research, and other)

Submitting Work

Machined Parts

Potential machined part job submissions should generally be discussed with shop staff before detailed specifications are generated to avoid unnecessary re-work and to optimize the designs for shop capabilities. Send requests for review appointments via email to mshop@mech.ubc.ca.

For machining work, if you are confident that your submission is complete and meets the requirements for part specifications expressed below, please use the form below to make a submission.

*Please note that the utility used for this is not FIPPA compliant and you are not required to enter any personal information that you wish to keep private. This form is not on a server secured by UBC and information may not be secure. If you wish to submit work in an alternate fashion, please contact mfengler@mech.ubc.ca.

Job Form Instructions:

• Please fill in all required fields
  • For water jet cutting, attach 1:1 scale, annotation-free DXF files and indicate material specifications and part quantities;
  • For machined parts, attach complete specification drawings in PDF format meeting the requirements outlined below and Solidworks or NX model files. If you need guidance on how to produce proper drawings, you may find this video helpful: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32CXeJVgiLA
• You will receive an emailed invitation within 5 business days to join your job project on an online utility called Podio.  Podio is used by us to manage your job, including any changes to specifications, uploads of revisions etc.
• The invitation should arrive in the inbox of the email address that you entered on the submission form.
• Use the invitation to create an account on Podio using the email address linked to your job.
• Please be sure to check the account and allow emails from no-reply@podio.com. If you don't receive the invite, please email mshop@mech.ubc.ca.
• Once a job file has been opened for you, please use that file to submit updates or revisions. Your invitation allows you to update submitted information and you can add additional information and uploads via the Comments utility on the page.

The Support Machine Shop is equipped with CNC milling and turning capabilities as well as conventional milling, turning, drilling, cutting, welding and forming capabilities. In addition, the shop has access to abrasive water-jet cutting and wood and plastics machining and fabrication equipment, including limited 3D printing.

Know before you submit

Some guidelines on our technical requirements for specifications and our current rates are provided below. You may also wish to ensure that the size of your parts fits within our equipment capacities.

Also, please note that the machine shop does not have a formal QC certification as is required for some types of work (e.g. pressure vessels requiring a Canadian Registration Number).

 Requirements for Machined Part Specifications:

Full specifications for the parts to be made are required before the job can proceed. Specifications on the drawing must include:

1. Dimensions for the size, location and orientation of all part features expressed in a drawing (neat sketches are acceptable)
2. Surface finish requirements
3. Tolerances for each dimension
4. Material type, grade and condition (e.g. Aluminium 6061-T6)
5. Quantity of parts required

Drawings should conform to CSA CAN3-B78.1-M83 or ASME Y14 series drawing standards. If you need help to develop your specifications, please approach us and we'll be happy to help. Please understand that machining work on a job cannot begin without these important details defined.

Current Rates

Rough estimates for cost are provided free of charge, however time for detailed estimates requiring more than 1/2hr of technician time to prepare will be charged at the shop rate.

Note that jobs are accepted into the queue on a first-come first served basis once the specifications are clear and complete. Jobs may be delayed if material is not on hand so be sure to check the shop's stock. It generally helps if you procure materials to ensure they are here when your job is otherwise ready to start.  A staff member can order materials for you as part of the job at the standard shop rate.

Welding

We are able to provide some basic steel, aluminum and stainless steel fabrication services, welding structures such as machine frames and apparatus. Please come and discuss your needs before submitting a work request.

Please note that we do not have a ticketed welder on staff and that any welding requiring certification (e.g. pressure vessel welding) will have to be sent out.

Please see our Machine Shop Equipment Capacities before submitting a design to our Support Machining Services team.