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Faculty of Science
Home » Governance & Services » Technical Services

Technical Services

Many research and teaching activities at York are supported by full technical service facilities, including a machine shop, a student machine shop, a glassblowing shop and two science stores.

For Science Stores inquiries please contact Brad Sheeller at sheeller@yorku.ca or Room 317 Lumbers Building.

If you have questions about the operation of the technical services department in general, please contact Jerry Grech at jgrech@yorku.ca, 437-995-5168, or Room 017 Petrie Science and Engineering Building.

Shops

The technicians have more than 150 years of combined experience. A $65 per hour rate applies to all work done by shop staff. Materials are extra and are not included in hourly rates.

The shops are open Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Standard Operating Procedures: Submitting Work to the Technical Shops

The Technical Services Flow Chart below explains the steps required to submit work to the technical shops. Work is requested by submitting one of the Job Request Forms to the shop staff by e-mail or in person.

York Science Technical Services Flow Chart showing the Standard Operating Procedures to submit work to the technical shops

We offer the following services:

The machine shop specializes in General Machining, CNC Machining and Manufacturing, 3D Modelling and Computer Assistant Drafting (CAD), Fused Deposition Modelling and Stereolithography Modelling, Welding Fabrication, and Repairs.

Location: 004 – 006 Petrie Science & Engineering Building
Machine Shop Technician: Wilfred Stein, Tom Mueller, Adam McLean. ext. 33363

Highlights of our services

Technical consultation
The shop offers consultation on conceptual and physical design, material selection and sourcing, machining feasibility and cost effective alternatives for new projects as well as repair, modification or updating existing hardware.

Electro-Mechanical design and fabrication
Parts design and documentation in SolidWorks or autoCAD.
Custom fabrication using client supplied or shop generated drawings, often to height precision tolerances. We are fully competent in machining of most metals (ferrous and non-ferrous), plastics, ceramics, nylon, Teflon, PVC, ABS and wood.
Past sample projects:

  • Zero Gravity Flights
  • Underwater Robotics
  • Interactive Virtual Reality Table
  • High Vacuum System
  • Mass Spectrometry Parts
  • Infrared Spectrometer for Atmospheric Observation

Mechanical Repair
If any existing equipment breaks down, shop staff will diagnose the problems, and coordinate parts replacement and repair. If replacement parts are not available, then custom parts can be made from stock material.

Faculty of Science Machine Shop Equipment and Services:

Machine Shop

  • Waterjet – Flow Mach 2-1313b
  • 5 axis CNC - Dahlih DMX-320
  • 3 axis CNC – First V700
  • 3 axis CNC – First V700 with TJR rotary table trundle
  • 3 axis CNC – Topwell TW-31-MCO (Qty 2)
  • CNC Lathe – HAAS ST10
  • CNC Lathe – DY41 CX1000
  • Lathe- Cyclematic CTL-618EVS
  • Lathe – Colchester Triumph 2000
  • Milling Machine – Vertical/Horizontal First LC-20VHS
  • Milling Machine – Holke F-11-V

Student Machine Shop

  • Milling Machine – First LC 1-1/2 VS
  • Lathe – Microweily TY-1640S
  • Bandsaw – Startrite 24-T-10
  • Drill Press

Wood Shop

  • Table saw
  • CNC Router - D23 – Mini Tron 2’ x 3’ with Mach 3 Controller
  • Radial arm saw
  • Vertical Panel Saw – 64”

The Glassblowing Shop specializes in custom design and/or repair of scientific glassware, including technical consultations.

Location: 016A Petrie Science and Engineering Building
Glassblower: Dirk Verdoold, ext. 33413

Highlights of our services

Technical consultation
Consultations on glass-related issues from standard glass components from catalogues to custom designs for teaching, and research.

Glass repair
Repair or modify glass apparatus used in teaching and research labs such as:

  • Adapters, Bubblers, Condensers
  • Distillation and Extraction Apparatus
  • Synthesis and reaction Vessels
  • Vacuum Manifolds

Design
Fabricate custom glass components for specific requirements such as:

  • Vacuum Systems
  • Laser Tubes and optical cells
  • Specialty Lamps
  • Cutting or Drilling Glass
  • Chromatography Columns
  • Electrochemical Cells

The Student Machine Shop employs a full time machinist to assist students and faculty members working on research projects.

Location: 007 Petrie Science & Engineering Building
Student Machine Shop Technician: Adam McLean, 007 Petrie, ext. 33363

Highlights of our services

The Shop provides health and safety oriented training to undergraduate students working on course related-projects and graduate students working on faculty-supervised projects only. For more information, please read the Procedure on the Use of Student Machine Shop. To receive your training, please submit a Request to use the Student Shop Form to shop staff Jerry Grech.

To schedule use of the Student Machine Shop equipment, use our online scheduler.

Science Stores

The non-profit Science Stores offer a variety of products and service solutions to faculty and graduate and undergraduate students.

Location: 002 Petrie Science and Engineering Building
Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 12:00pm and 1:00pm – 4:30pm
Storekeepers: Sherryl Deane and Amal Youssef (scistore@yorku.ca), 002 PSE, ext.55244

  • Scientific and administrative supplies, including chemicals
  • Limited shipping and receiving for the Faculty of Science
  • Storage and processing of hazardous waste for disposal

For inventory carried by the stores that you would like delivered directly to your lab, contact the Stores directly.