School of Engineering and Technology
FACILITIES AND LABS
Electrical Engineering Lab (formerly Mechatronics)
Riverfront Hall
Room 229
Quad Cities campus
The lab provides state of the art equipment to conduct experiments and learn the field of Electrical Engineering. The lab also facilitates project-based learning to apply knowledge learned in class to real-world applications through projects. In the Electrical Engineering lab, there are 12 work spaces featuring NI Educational Laboratory Virtual Instrumentation Suite (ELVIS) among others. This lab also includes; robots, hexapods, quadcopters/drones, autonomous vehicles, and more.
Not an open lab. Requires Dr. Shin's approval for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Fluid Dynamics Lab
Riverfront Hall
Room 134
Quad Cities campus
The Fluid Dynamics Lab features a “fluids board” that is used to conduct experiments and visualize concepts taught in the classroom. The fluid friction apparatus has different bends in the piping as well as dirt/sand/deposits to see how they affect flow.
Not an open lab. Requires Dr. Zbeeb's approval for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Makerspace Lab
Riverfront Hall
Room 133
Quad Cities campus
The Makerspace lab is where students get to operate the space and have hands on experience with equipment such as; 3D printers, large format printers, laser cutters, a CNC mill, etc. The lab is accessible to all students as long as they have completed training on all of the equipment.
Available 8:00am-4:30pm by appointment. After-hours access (4:30pm - 8:45 pm) available by request. Fill out the After-hours Makerspace Request form to request access at least 24 hours in advance and complete safety training. After-hour access for approved students requires check in at the front desk on the day of their reservation.
Manufacturing Lab (formerly Prototype Lab)
Riverfront Hall
Room 137
Quad Cities campus
The Prototype Lab is a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility where projects and research are performed by trained technicians. Students can only work in this lab when they are under supervision, due to the high scale equipment, i.e., largest 3D printer, injection molder, vacuum forming machine, and welding and ancillary shop.
Not an open lab. Requires safety training and direct supervision by a trained full-time staff or faculty member.
Lab Availability:
- Monday 8:00 am - 2:00pm & 3:15pm – 4:30pm by appointment only.
- Tuesday 8:00 am – 4:30pm by appointment only.
- Wednesday 8:00 am – 2:00pm & 3:15pm – 4:30pm by appointment only.
- Thursday 8:00 am – 4:30pm by appointment only.
- Friday 8:00 am-12:00pm & 1:00pm – 4:30pm by appointment only.
Materials Lab
Riverfront Hall
Room 131
Quad Cities campus
The Materials Laboratory facilitates investigating the structure and behavior of materials used in engineering design. As the structure of a material changes its behavior changes. By adjusting the composition and structure of a material, properties such as strength, ductility, conductivity and permeability can be modified and controlled to meet specific design requirements.
Not an open lab. Requires Jay Payne's approval for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Additive / 3D Printing Lab
Riverfront Hall
Room 118
Quad Cities campus
The additive/3D printing lab in Riverfront hall consists of ten fdm 3D printing stations that are designed to give students a basic understanding of the 3D printing process. For more advanced 3D printing applications, carbon fiber infused nylon can be printed on our Markforged Mark Two FDM printer or our large-format 3DP workhorse 200. Both of these printers are engineering grade prototype printing machines currently in use by industry. when intricate details are required, The School of Engineering and Technology also has access to a group of powder bed fusion 3d metal printers along with a group of SLA (resin) printers.
Requires approval from Dan Hanson or Jay Payne for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Robotics Lab
Riverfront Hall 229
Quad Cities campus
The robotics lab in Riverfront Hall is designed to teach students in the use, capabilities, and limitations of industrial collaborative style robots. It is equipped with two industrial robots: a FANUC CR-7iA collaborative robot and a Universal Robots UR10e collaborative robot. Also included are a group of autonomous robots fully designed by senior level students for use in training and teaching of robot design.
Not an open lab. Requires approval from Dr. Shin, Dan Hanson, or Jay Payne for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Senior Projects Lab
Riverfront Hall 130
Quad Cities campus
Open to senior project students 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. For after-hours access (4:30pm – 8:45pm), senior project students must log in at the front desk for entry.
Power Systems Laboratory
Knoblauch Hall
Room 334
Macomb campus
The power systems lab exposes students to electrical systems found in home, manufacturing and construction environments. The lab stations contain appropriate power supplies and meters necessary to perform experiments on the residential and industrial wiring lab trainers.
Not an open lab. Requires safety training before use and Dr. Hunter's approval for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Programmable Controller Laboratory
Knoblauch Hall
Room 343
Macomb campus
There are 24 computer workstations to serve over 50 industrial programmable logic controllers, machine interfaces and auxiliary manufacturing equipment. Students learn to assemble, program and troubleshoot the electrical equipment which keeps industry running.
Not an open lab. Requires Dr. Hunter's approval for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Robotic Systems Laboratory
Knoblauch Hall
Room 342
Macomb campus
Twelve electronics workstations prepare students to construct, program, troubleshoot and run robotic workcells. Emphasis is place on the interconnection of auxiliary devices.
Not an open lab. Requires safety training before use and Dr. Hunter's approval for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Soils Lab
Knoblauch Hall
Room 101
Macomb campus
This lab provided equipment and facilities needed to perform basic soils tests for Plastic and Liquid Limits, and the Sieve test needed for classification of soil samples as required for foundation design and construction site management. Additionally the Modified and Standard Proctor tests will be performed so that students will get an understanding of compaction related to moisture content.
Not an open lab. Requires Dr. Gravitt's approval for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Construction Lab
Knoblauch Hall
Room B7
Macomb campus
This lab is a multi-purpose open space lab for construction and engineered Building. It can be set up for constructing small projects with wood, electrical wiring, small scale Home Building, masonry mortar and even concrete mixing. The lab comes equipped with a wide array of handheld construction tools, power tools and freestanding cutting tools for wood and metal. During one week you may find students setting up electrical wiring on a breaker panel, and the next week they might be building a section for a picnic table out of wood. In addition to the building tools, this lab also houses our surveying equipment for traverses in our surveying class.
Not an open lab. Requires safety training before use and approval from a full-time staff or faculty member for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Machining Lab
Knoblauch Hall
Room B40/B44
Macomb campus
The Machining Laboratory is a multifunctional space used to provide basic machining concepts, as well as advanced Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machining experiences. Students get hands-on exposure to the latest Computer Aided Manufacturing (CAM) software to create programs used to manufacture actual parts using CNC machines within the laboratory.
The Machining Laboratory consists of numerous manual machines, 3 HAAS brand CNC machining centers, and 1 HAAS brand CNC turning center, along with a 24 station computer lab.
Not an open lab. Requires safety training and Dr. Payne's approval for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
3D Printing Lab
Knoblauch Hall 329
Macomb campus
Not an open lab. Requires approval from a full-time staff or faculty member for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Plasma Lab
Knoblauch Hall
Room 127/B3
Macomb campus
Not an open lab. Requires safety training and Dr. Hall's approval for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Welding Shop
Knoblauch Hall
Room B4
Macomb campus
Not an open lab. Requires approval from a full-time staff or faculty member for use outside scheduled classroom/lab hours.
Statement on Safety
The School of Engineering and Technology places the safety of students and staff as the outmost highest priority. Each laboratory space is equipped with all the proper safety gear/equipment required, including fire extinguishers, eye-wash stations and fume-extracting hoods.
The floors in the labs have clearly marked pathways to guide users through safe zones and personal protective equipment (PPE) requirements. Students and faculty are trained on the correct way to wear PPE while also being instructed on its limitations. All lab users are required to undergo equipment usage training, including zero energy state and equipment’s emergency shutdown procedures.
The staff of the School of Engineering and Technology appreciate the chance to instruct students for their future careers. Our hope is to instill a safety-oriented mindset that they can share with others in their respective fields.
Lab Policy and Safety Guidlines
These guidelines apply to all lab spaces across both the Macomb and Quad Cities managed by the WIU School of Engineering and Technology. Our goal is to maintain safe, organized, and productive learning environments for all students.
ACCESS & PURPOSE
- Lab access is subject to availability and requires approval from a full-time faculty or staff member, unless otherwise specified.
- Labs are intended for academic and research projects only.
- Access to each lab space is limited to authorized WIU SET students who have completed any required safety training.
- No student will be allowed lab access if under the influence of drugs or alcohol.
- Students requesting access to lab spaces who are not enrolled in a course with a lab component require additional approval of the School of Engineering and Technology Director before access will be granted.
SAFETY REQUIREMENTS
- Strict adherence to all safety protocols, posted signage, and supervisor instructions is required.
- Proper PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) must be worn at all times while in lab spaces.
- All injuries or accidents must be reported immediately to the supervisor.
- Unsafe behavior or actions that could cause harm to yourself or others will result in being asked to leave the lab immediately.
- Depending on the situation, individuals may be required to repeat safety training before access is reinstated.
VIOLATIONS & DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS
- Unsafe practices, unauthorized use, or repeated safety infractions may result in temporary or permanent suspension of lab privileges.
- Faculty and staff may revoke lab access at their discretion in extenuating circumstances.
- Students who lose access must appeal to the Director to determine next steps before regaining permission to use lab spaces.
TOOLS, MATERIALS & EQUIPMENT
- No items, tools, or materials may be removed from any lab space without completing the proper sign-out form and receiving faculty or staff approval.
- All equipment and materials must be returned promptly and remain in good working condition.
- Report any broken tools, damaged equipment, or unsafe conditions immediately to the lab supervisor.
TRAINING & AUTHORIZATION
- Many lab spaces require safety training prior to use.
- Training must be completed with the faculty member responsible for that specific lab.
- Only trained and authorized students may operate specialized machinery or equipment.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Each lab has a designated primary contact responsible for training, safety oversight, and access approval.
Please refer to the posted reference sheet for lab-specific details, including:
- Primary contact name
- Room location
- Access requirements
- Lab availability
Failure to follow these policies may result in disciplinary action and loss of lab privileges.
Thank you for helping maintain a safe, professional, and respectful lab environment for all WIU students, faculty, and staff.
Connect with CBT: