Overview

The process of learning principles of physics and conducting experiments in the field requires the use of conventional and custom equipment and machinery. Undergraduate and graduate students alike gain an incredible learning experience from crafting the very tools they will use in the future. Luckily, the Department of Physics—and other collaborations across campus—offer facilities and training for students who wish to undertake these pursuits.

Trades Teaching Lab

The Physics Trades Teaching Lab offers students the opportunity to learn hands-on, practical techniques for operating machinery in the machine shop. Upon certification, students are authorized to use the machine shop for creating equipment and tools for personal and educational purposes. Students who wish to fabricate items in the machine shop are advised to take the safety courses provided by this Lab.

Precision Instrument Shop

The Physics Precision Instrument Shop (PPIS) was established to serve the scientific instrument fabrication needs of the Physics Department and the University community. The shop utilizes both manual and computer controlled milling machines and lathes for the production of instrumentation in a wide variety of common and exotic materials. The PPIS offers many machining and design services, such as:

  • Instrument Design Consultation
  • Computer Aided Design (CAD)
  • TIG Welding
  • High Temperature Brazing

Colorado Nanofabrication Lab

The Colorado Nanofabrication Laboratory (CNL) is an open user facility on the Boulder campus. The mission of the CNL is to provide expertise, facilities, infrastructure and teaming environments to enable and facilitate interdisciplinary research in microelectronics, optoelectronics, and MEMS. The CNL occupies 5,500 sq ft of laboratory space equipped with a wide variety of fabrication and research tools suitable for micro/nano-electronics and MEMS devices, including photolithography, thin-film deposition, plasma and chemical etching, and characterization processes. Students, faculty and research staff are welcome to utilize the services offered by this lab.