Mechanical Testing
The Mechanical Testing unit offers experienced staff and extensive facilities in the area of mechanical testing including the following: tensile, compression, three-point bend, four-point bend, creep, fatigue, rotating fatigue, and flexural fatigue.
Metal Casting (Foundry)
The foundry facility supports metal-casting activities, primarily focusing on aluminum and iron. Michigan Tech is one of only a handful of education institutions nationwide that have retained an in-house foundry. Most campuses and industries have bits and pieces of a metal design process. Not us. Our team of faculty, staff, and students are present from first calculation to final report—transferring the billet each step of the way. With Kevlar gloves, of course.
Metal Processing
The Metal Processing unit offers experienced staff and facilities supporting thermo-mechanical processing of metals, including several deformation techniques, heat treatment, 3D printing, and finishing capabilities.
Materials Characterization Fabrication Core Facility (MCFF)
The Materials Characterization and Fabrication Core Facility (MCFF) powers research and innovation at Michigan Tech by providing world-class tools for imaging, analysis, environmental testing, and micro/nanofabrication. With ten specialized core labs, MCFF delivers the data, expertise, and hands-on training researchers need to move ideas forward fast. From advanced materials to environmental systems, MCFF is the hub where discovery meets precision.
Thermo-mechanical Testing
The Thermo-mechanical Testing unit evaluates how a material's mechanical properties change in response to temperature changes, often under controlled loads.
Other Materials and Processing Labs and Equipment
- Deformation Processing
- Powder Processing | Location: M&M 531 | Contact: Paul Fraley
- Powder Mixing, Powder Compaction, Cold Isostatic
- Hot Isostatic Pressing, Mechanical Alloying
- Hot Vaccuum Isostatic Press
- Inert Atmosphere Processing
- Thermal Processing and Heat Treatment | Location: M&M 530 | Contact: Paul Fraley
- Machine Shop
- CNC Machining and Welding/Joining
- Microwave Processing
- Particulate Separation
Other Structural and Characterization Labs and Equipment
- Varied Sample Preparation Techniques
- Optical Microscopy and Metallography
- Image Analysis and Processing
- Encapsulating/Glass Working Station
- Xenon Lamp
- LECO Light Element Chemical Analyses
- X-ray Diffraction