Department of Physics and Astronomy Machine Shop
"If you're not building original research equipment, you're not doing original research."
- Dr. Robert D. Spence
I asked him where he had it made, he said he made it himself, & when I asked him where
he got his tools said he made them himself & laughing added if I had staid for other
people to make my tools & things for me... I had never made any thing...
— Isaac Newton's recollection, the year before he died, of having made the first reflecting
telescope; recorded by his niece's husband, John Conduitt, 31 August 1726
[Keynes MS 130.10, King's College, Cambridge, UK]
Our Shop Mission Statement
Our objective is to design, build, and maintain the highest quality research and teaching instruments,
while always keeping finished cost to a minimum and safety to a maximum.
Our customers are the Faculty, Students and Staff of Michigan State University.
We are part of the Department of Physics and Astronomy.
Contact
(517) 884-5540 or (517) 884-5541
Michigan State University
Dept. of Physics & Astronomy
Biomedical-Physical Sciences Bldg.
567 Wilson Rd., Room 1213
East Lansing, MI 48824
Hours
Monday-Friday
7:00am–5:30pm
The Shop observes all
MSU Holidays
Plan to arrive before 4:30 pm with new projects, to allow you time to fill out your service work order and talk with our staff about the details of your project.
Services Available
- Both Sinking & Wire Electric Discharge Machining
- Turning, Surfacing, and Threading Lathe Operations
- CNC and Manual Milling
- Vacuum Leak Checked TIG, MIG, and Gas Welding
- Precision Surface Grinding
- Consulting for the Manufacture of Both Common and Unique Scientific and Teaching Instruments