ME Manufacturing Labs

The South Dakota Mines ME Difference

The South Dakota Mines Department of Mechanical Engineering offers a cohesive, project-based learning curriculum. But unlike many universities, we offer a comprehensive, flexible, and hands-on training program. All students can learn regardless of their level of experience. Students will choose their focus, pursuing initial training in either manual manufacturing processes or CNC programming processes. Each option has similar limitations, and, therefore, students learn the same theory using the method of their choice. After their required, initial training, students will continue their education in their areas of interest. The project-based learning curriculum is initiated with standard training in ME 126L Design for Manufacturing Lab and refined to student interest with subsequent coursework and projects.

Students develop their own projects to maximize interest, ownership, and motivation. This extends to project-based coursework, participation in extracurricular activities, and student-generated, non-academic projects.

The goal of this approach is to help students develop key design for manufacturing skills, which includes process planning, resource planning, material selection, cost analysis, CAD, GD&T, and project management through concurrent engineering and fabrication. We maximize student effort by allowing students the freedom to choose the project.

The curriculum teaches industrial culture and safety as priority one. Industrial culture is embedded in the training initiated with the required safety training and lab culture. Lab access is granted after safety training and is maintained through annual refreshers.

Design for Manufacturing Mentors

The design for manufacturing training staff includes mentors that have demonstrated outstanding leadership, motivation, and interest in design for manufacturing. The program ensures that students will receive the personal attention required to maintain a high level of safety and productivity.