Physics Machine Shop

Elec/Mech Section Staff

The main function of the Physics Machine Shop is to provide support services for physics experimental research labs and teaching laboratories. This consists of new construction, maintenance and modification of existing equipment and aiding with design to ensure that all components can be accurately and efficiently constructed. Many of the instruments that are constructed in the machine shop are unique and could not be realistically obtained from other sources. Faculty and Students work directly with Instrument Makers when projects are in progress. This interaction, especially with students, gives the students valuable knowledge about design and techniques used to construct their instruments and how to create usable drawings.

The Physics Machine Shop is staffed with one Supervisor, one Administrative Associate and ten Instrument Makers. Each project that is submitted to the shop posses different problems that challenge the instrument makers. Because of their many years of combined experience and knowledge of machine shop, and materials used in this department, specialized research equipment and devises are always maintained and constructed very accurately and efficiently. Our capabilities include the use of standard and specialized machine tools such as lathe, vertical mill, drill presses, grinders, saws, metal shear, pan break, hydraulic press, computerized numerical control (CNC) mills and hand measuring tools. Our shop has the ability to construct many identical pieces or a single piece of great complexity. The machine shop also has the ability to construct and weld ultra-high vacuum (10-10 ATM cc/Sec He) vessels from materials such as aluminum, stainless steel, Mu metal and titanium. All weldments used in vacuum applications are leak checked before being released to labs.

Students also have the option of constructing their own instruments in the Physics Student Shop. Our student shop has a full time Instrument Maker that supervises the daily activities making sure that all machine shop safety rules and procedure are followed. Each student wanting to use the shop must take a training course on proper machine tool operation. The student shop supervisor is available to assist students with design and proper material selection for projects.

Physics Cryogenics Shop

The Physics Cryogenics Shop is an on-site resource for research and teaching labs needing various high-pressure gases and liquids, leak detection, metal deposition and maintenance of vacuum pumps for research. Gases and liquids are available to all Physics Department Students and Faculty as well as any member of the University community.

The Cryo-shop is staffed with two Technical Staff members who are available to assist with dispensing of high-pressure gases and liquids. The high-pressure gases available are dry nitrogen, high purity nitrogen, helium, argon, carbon dioxide, hydrogen, oxygen and acetylene. Other products include liquid helium, that is produced on-site, and nitrogen that is purchased from suppliers. All products are available for purchase by any member of the University community that have an active account with the Cryo-shop and authorized to make purchases on that account. All transactions are handled by computer and billed on a monthly cycle.

The Cryo-shop has the capability to test vacuum chambers and components for leaks, using helium leak detectors for ultra-high vacuum (10 (sup-10) ATM cc/Sec He) applications. Technicians work directly with faculty, students and other staff when preparing and testing research apparatus for leaks.]

Other services include service and maintenance of vacuum pumps. Pumps that are used for research in this department can be brought here for periodic maintenance, which typically includes cleaning, changing oil and replacing belts. Technicians also have the ability to do complete rebuilds that consist of seals, veins, reed valves, gaskets and o-rings.

Technicians have the experience and capability to do simple metal evaporation of metals such as aluminum, copper, gold, silver, chromium, iron, magnesium chloride, tungsten oxide, lead, potassium bromide, bismuth, nickel, platinum and tin onto substrates. The metal deposition machine has the capability of acquiring a vacuum of 5.0 x 10 (sup-6) , which limits some applications required by this department.

Physics Electronics Shop

The Physics Electronics Shop is a valuable on-site technical resource for the Physics faculty, students, staff, and post-docs. A primary function of the shop is to provide repair and maintenance for instruments and equipment used by the Physics research groups. Consulting regarding electronic instrumentation and equipment applications and/or troubleshooting is another service provided for these clients.

The Physics Electronics Shop repairs, maintains, calibrates, and in many cases designs and constructs specialized equipment for the various Physics teaching laboratories and the Physics Lecture Demonstration group.

Many research experiments are dependent on specific legacy and custom built equipment lacking standard service documentation and no longer supported by the original makers or third party service providers. The Physics Electronics Shop has the expertise to repair, maintain, modify and/or redesign or find/create suitable replacements for otherwise irreplaceable specialized instruments and equipment.

The Physics Electronics Shop is staffed with very senior electronic technicians, experienced in a wide range of technologies. Combining their many years of experience, these staff members are highly skilled, very knowledgeable, and expert in determining practical applications for specialized research instruments, detectors, and other experimental devices. The Physics Electronics Shop produces practical results from both specific and vague instructions given by the graduate students and faculty. They are also knowledgeable in the numerous characteristics and properties of materials and other experiment design characteristics involving noise generation/immunity, material compatibility, vacuum and thermal properties, finding sources for unusual items, appropriate considerations for selection of instrumentation and laboratory electrical safety requirements.

Most of the work conducted in the Physics Electronics Shop is directly related to the education of students. Students and post-docs frequently interact directly with the Physics Electronic Shop staff, thereby gaining invaluable practical knowledge about design, materials and techniques used for their experiments. They also learn how to specify instruments that meet their needs and stay within limited budgets. This level of interaction and shared practical knowledge contributes significantly to the success of our Physics students and researchers.

Physics Storeroom

The Physics Department STOREROOM serves as a "mini warehouse" for the students and professors of the Physics Department as well as other on-campus Colleges and Schools.

The storeroom carries a wide range of utilitarian products including: small tools; metal working tools such as drills; screws and nuts; a range of minor electronic components; wire; o-rings; vacuum flanges, fittings and seals; hose and tubing; and cleaning products like Kim-Wipes and various types of gloves.

Our supply items are available for purchase by any member of the University community that has an active account with us. All users must be authorized to make purchases. Transactions are handled by computer, and are billed on a monthly cycle.

Machine Section Staff

Allan Schroeder, als@physics.utexas.edu
Elec/Mech Tech Supervisor
RLM 3.21 | (512) 471-5256

Carol Monette, leni@mail.utexas.edu
Admin. Associate
RLM 3.204 | (512) 471-5256

Jack Clifford, clifford@physics.utexas.edu
Scientific Instrument Maker II
RLM 3.210 | (512) 471-6762

Robert Hasdorff, rchasdorff@mail.utexas.edu
Electronics Repair Shop Tech Staff Asst V
RLM 3.212 | (512) 471-4063

Gary Thomas, garyt@physics.utexas.edu
Electronics Repair Shop Tech Staff Asst IV
RLM 3.212 | (512) 471-5854

David Elias, parts@physics.utexas.edu
Physics Storeroom Storekeeper
RLM 3.108 | (512) 471-1875

Jeffery Kent, cycloptichorn@hotmail.com
Physics Storeroom Stores Clerk I
RLM 3.108 | (512) 471-1875

Lanny Sandefur, lsandefur@physics.utexas.edu
Physics Cryogenics Lab Technical Staff Associate
RLM 3.104 | (512) 471-3203

Ed Baez, edwin@physics.utexas.edu
Cryogenics Lab Technical Staff Asst V
RLM 3.104 | (512) 471-3203

Jeff Boney, jcboney@sbcglobal.net
ENS Building Shop Scientific Instrument Maker IIr
ENS 32NG | (512) 471-5325

George Sandefur, gsandefur@ev1.net
ENS Building Shop Scientific Instrument Maker II
ENS 32NG | (512) 471-5325

Jay Campbell
Physics Machine Shop Scientific Instrument Maker II
RLM 3.206 | (512) 471-5256

Donnie Cannon
Physics Machine Shop Scientific Instrument Maker II
RLM 3.206 | (512) 471-5256

Terry Cole, colebrothers@earthlink.net
Physics Machine Shop Scientific Instrument Maker II
RLM 3.206 | (512) 471-5256

Richard Goodwin
Physics Machine Shop Scientific Instrument Maker II
RLM 3.206 | (512) 471-5256

Jesse Trevino
Physics Machine Shop Scientific Instrument Maker II
RLM 3.206 | (512) 471-5256

Danny Boyd, boyd@physics.utexas.edu
Physics Machine Shop Scientific Instrument Maker Supv
RLM 3.206 | (512) 471-5256

Herb Boehl, hgboehl@prodigy.net
Physics Machine Shop Tech Staff Asst V
RLM 3.206 | (512) 471-5256

Roger Neideffer
Physics Machine Shop Scientific Instrument Maker II
RLM 3.21 | (512) 471-5256