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College of Engineering
Capstone

Mechanical Prototyping Resources

NOTE: BYU labs and resources are only for school projects and limited personal educational projects. University resources may not be used for business purposes or personal gain without prior written permission from the University.

There are a number of resources available to help you with your hardware. In some cases there is a fee for the services. To purchase items from these resources, follow the procedures found in On-campus Purchases.

Capstone students are guests in all campus facilities. To maintain availability of these facilities, it is vital that students act professionally in their interactions with the people, facilities, and equipment that comprise these resources. Basically, treat others as they would want to be treated. Be respectful. Follow rules and policies. Don't demand exceptions or special treatment. Focus on being a good citizen.

Eye protection is required at all times in the PRL as well as in all labs in the college. Students are responsible for their own safety glasses. Upon completion of the safety training for the PRL, Capstone will provide you a pair of safety glasses, along with a scratch-prevention pouch. If you lose or damage your safety glasses, you will be responsible for replacing them.

Project Realization Lab (PRL) -- 126 and 136 EB


  • Most project teams will have their workspace assigned in this lab. Space assignments in other locations for projects with special needs will also be arranged. See the Team Workspace for information about getting your team workspace assigned.
  • Work space, hand tools, and power tools are available in the PRL for Capstone use, whether your project space is in the PRL or elsewhere. Tools from the PRL must remain in the PRL. Tools for other areas are available from the ME Checkout room.

ME Prototype Lab -- 117 EB

Nick Hawkins, Lab supervisor, 801-422-6297, nick.hawkins@byu.edu

  • Equipment and help available for machining parts.
  • Tools are available for use in the shop; please do not take them to other areas.
  • Nick is a great resource for consulting help in how to make machine parts. He is eager to help.
  • Laser cutting machine for prototypes.
  • CNC router for prototypes.
  • Welder, vinyl cutter, and plasma cutter.
  • Waterjet cutter.
  • CNC Plasma cutter.
  • 3D printing. The Prototype Laboratory is the preferred source for Capstone 3D printing.

NOTE: Materials in the Prototype Laboratory are **NOT** free. You must arrange payment for any materials taken from the Prototype Laboratory. Please contact Nick or a TA about purchasing materials that are in stock and have a nominal cost, such as fasteners, remnant materials, or nominal quantities of steel and aluminum.

See On-campus Purchases for details about purchasing inexpensive materials from the Prototype Laboratory.

You may not use the purchasing methods above for purchases over $30. For these purchase you MUST place the order through the Capstone online purchasing system and obtain prior approval, although Nick can help you find sources from which to order.

After-hours access to some equipment in the Prototype Laboratory can be arranged by specific permission when needed. Contact Dave Laws or Nick Hawkins to request after-hours access.

ME Project Support Center (107 EB)

Kevin Cole, lab supervisor, 801-422-8038, mecheckout@byu.edu

There is a wealth of hardware and components in the ME Project Support Center for your use. Kevin is also available as a resource for help or advice on hardware, motors, control systems, LabView programming, etc. He can help you find space, materials, and utilities for your project. If your project is heavy or large we have a forklift, crane, and pallet jacks available for use. You should receive training to operate the heavy equipment. The ME department also has many other resources available to you (tensile testing machines, optical measuring microscopes, heat treating furnaces, wind tunnels, etc.) Please ask Kevin about your needs. The following is an abbreviated list of things you might find in the checkout room for project prototyping and experimentation.

  • Data Acquisition hardware and software
  • Control system hardware and software
  • Tools that you can checkout and keep in your workspace
  • Sensors – force, pressure, acceleration, vibration, displacement, temperature, sound, voltage, current, rotational speed, etc.
  • Motors – gear motors, ac motors, dc motors and servos, stepper motors
  • Actuators – solenoids, pneumatic pistons, motor driven ball screws (linear actuators)
  • Electronic components – relays, switches, potentiometers, transistors, resistors, capacitors, transformers, wire, etc.
  • Plumbing – fittings, valves, solenoid valves, motor driven valves, air hoses, regulators, tubing
  • Instruments – oscilloscopes, digital multimeters, thermocouple readers, power supplies, amplifiers, transducer readouts, function generators, optical pyrometers (for optical temperature measurement), sound level meter, air flow meter, humidity meter, high speed camera, etc.
  • Useful parts left over from past projects

ECE Experiential Learning Center (416 CB)


  • Arduinos, Raspberry Pis, electrical and many other components available for purchase. Materials stock of plastic, metals, and wood. (see ECEN ELC Parts List Page)
  • Large variety of miscellaneous hardware, wire, electronics, tubing, paint, office supplies, o-rings.
  • After hours vending machine for electronics parts near 423 CB.
  • Motors – gear motors, ac motors, dc motors and servos, stepper motors
  • Actuators – solenoids, pneumatic pistons, motor driven ball screws (linear actuators)
  • Machine shop for student use, 3D printer, laser cutter, PCB mill, and paint booth. Complete Training LMS modules before using shop equipment or machines. (see Training LMS)
  • Multiple work stations are available with soldering equipment and other tools for use in the shop; please do not take them to other areas.

MFGEN Material Removal Lab (101 CTB)


  • Machine tools available for student use during normal working hours.

See On-campus Purchases for details about purchasing inexpensive materials from the Material Removal Lab.

You may not use the purchasing methods above for purchases over $30. For these purchase you MUST place the order through the Capstone online purchasing system and obtain prior approval, although Clint may be able to help you find sources from which to order.

BYU Paint Booth

The large BYU Paint Booth behind the Snell Building is available for teams to use to paint their projects. The Paint Booth has specific procedures to follow when using their shop.

  • Teams will need to bring a checkout form that lists name, major, faculty approval (can be an email) and a project/class for which the paint booth is being used. Also, a statement will need to be included that if the area is not cleaned up, a $35/hour fee will be charged to the individual for cleanup. You DON'T want to have to pay this!
  • The paint booth is for BYU class/project use only.
  • Reserve time with David Morgan of the Industrial Design faculty (801-422-6504) in order to use the booth.

Physical Facilities Manufacturing Shop (108 CTB)


  • Manufacture more precise parts for your project; however, there is a fee and the schedule is variable. You may wish to compare PML prices to bids for off-campus machine shops to find the best deal.
  • Consulting help on design available by contacting Therin Garrett 801-422-4570 / thering@byu.edu
  • Other services include: machining, welding, fabrication, Electric Discharge machining, and engineering drawing procurement.

Manufacturing Engineering Waterjet Cutter (101 CTB)

The Manufacturing Engineering waterjet cutter is capable of cutting a wide variety of materials. They can be reached at byuwaterjet@byu.edu. There is a fee for this service, which must be coordinated in advance with the Capstone office as described in On-campus Purchases.

Auto Shop (148 BRWB)

The auto shop can help with car body repair and painting. They can mount and balance tires and help with many different vehicle needs.

There are fees for their services. Any work performed by the auto shop will be charged to your team budget and must be approved in advance by your coach and the Capstone office before requesting any work or incurring any expense. See On-campus Purchases for more information.

Off-Campus Machine Shops

There are local machine shops which can make parts for a fee. Check the Yellow Pages, or search the web. In accordance with University policy, if you wish to have parts made off-campus, you must request quotes from at least two different vendors. Work with your coach to decide the best place. Work with the Capstone office to get payment arranged before placing an order. No work can be started until the machine shop or other vendor has been assigned a BYU vendor number. There are also local companies that produce rapid prototypes, do laser cutting of metals, do precision sheet-metal work, etc.

PCB Manufacturers

A number of outside businesses will create professional PCBs for a reasonable fee. Please see Circuit Boards for more information.

Off-Campus Service Providers

A number of off-campus business will provide services (rather than products) for a fee. BYU has special requirements for hiring service providers. Should you need to obtain a service, please see Service Providers, Off-campus to learn the approved methods for obtaining services.