New Manufacturing Studio supercharges engineering in Indianapolis
“Design and manufacturing have always been an integral part of the Purdue Engineering experience,” said Mike Logan, senior director of technical services for the School of Mechanical Engineering. “It originally started in the 19th century with hand tools like a hammer and anvil. In the 20th century we progressed to machine tools and drafting plans on paper. And now we are in the digital era, designing in CAD and making parts with CNC and 3D printing.”
The tools may change, but the spirit remains — the desire to make stuff.
“We want ME students to design and build something every year they are here,” Logan said. “Our curriculum features a dedicated design and manufacturing track, where students get hands-on experience with manufacturing processes in their sophomore, junior, and senior years. That’s why it’s important for us to establish maker spaces and instructional labs that enable it to happen.”
Hammer Down
A perfect example of this is the ME hammer. For decades, sophomores in mechanical engineering have visited the machine shop as a rite of passage, each making a 10-inch keepsake replica hammer. In 2024 that process was formalized, forming the foundation of a new manufacturing curriculum for mechanical engineering.
“The hammer is a great introduction to the manufacturing process,” said Darrin Wilcoxson, senior manager of Purdue ME’s maker spaces. “Students learn how to operate the lathe, the mill, the drill press, the CNC machines. And they learn how to read plans and follow instructions. Every step is designed to build confidence. Not only do they end up with a cool-looking memento, but they now feel empowered to design and machine whatever parts they need for other classes and projects moving forward.”
It's also a logistical challenge. Purdue teaches more undergraduate students than any other mechanical engineering school in the country, and moving that many students through a machine shop requires a concerted effort from a big team.
“Even though we’re so big, that one-on-one experience is very important here at Purdue,” Wilcoxson said. “To learn these machines, you really need to see it close-up, get your hands on the machines, and be able to ask questions individually. It’s awesome to see students learn the theory, operate the machines, and then finally hold the thing they built in their hands.”
Capital Investment
Coincidentally, this manufacturing renaissance occurred just as Purdue was establishing a new location for mechanical engineering in Indianapolis. As the first cohort of Indy-based Purdue students approached their sophomore year, they needed a place to make their hammers.
“Creating a machine shop from scratch is no small feat,” Logan said. “These machines are big and powerful, and have very specific infrastructure needs. We worked hard to identify a space, clear out and prepare it, order and deliver all the equipment, and set it up for ideal operation.”
“Layout of a machine shop is actually super important,” Wilcoxson said. “Not only do you need space to move the machines in, but you also need to arrange them properly for safe operation by the maximum number of students. Logistics and cleanup are just as important as actually operating the machine.”
The Manufacturing Studio in Indianapolis opened in time for the Spring 2026 semester, featuring three distinct spaces: a machine shop with lathes, mills, and other metal-machining tools; a CNC shop where students can upload their CAD designs to be processed and milled by the newest state-of-the-art CNC machines; and a metrology lab, where students measure and test the material properties of the parts they make. The studio is stacked with Tormach CNC lathes and mills; Summit and Atrump manual lathes and mills; Baldor grinding and polishing wheels; Baileigh hydraulic presses; Grizzly drop saws; Instron testing systems; and all the accessories and hand tools necessary to finish any job.
They are currently in the process of staffing up. “We have experience from our shop in West Lafayette on how to deal with hundreds of students every semester,” Wilcoxson said. “We helped develop the processes and procedures to teach these principles clearly, safely, and efficiently. We started with fantastic staff and student workers in Indianapolis who are shepherding these sophomores through making their hammer, and we look forward to adding many more. The feedback has been amazing — everyone loves the new shop, and they love making the hammer!”
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Ultimately, the goal of the Manufacturing Studio is to offer students a broad suite of experiential learning opportunities, preparing them for the rest of their academic career and life afterward. “As they progress through Purdue, they learn the fundamentals in spaces like this,” Logan said. “Then they put it to work for a motorsports or robotics team. They apply it directly to the real world during their internships and co-ops. They design experiments for undergraduate research projects. By the time they graduate, they are 100% industry-ready.”
Source: Mike Logan, loganm@purdue.edu
Writer: Jared Pike, jaredpike@purdue.edu, 765-496-0374