Yellowstone Times

Montana State University (MSU) is set to enhance its engineering program with the addition of a $2 million lathe, provided on an indefinite loan by Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL). This advanced machine will allow students to gain hands-on experience in metalworking, producing parts with precision measured in micrometers.

The lathe, weighing approximately 37,000 pounds and comparable in size to a small bedroom, will be installed at MSU's Barnard Hall this spring. It serves a dual purpose: offering students practical experience and challenging them to design a smaller, lighter version with similar precision capabilities. LANL intends to use the new prototype for manufacturing parts essential for national nuclear readiness.

David Miller, a professor in MSU’s Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, explained the significance of the project: “This is a longstanding, unclassified project for the National Nuclear Security Administration, which is part of the U.S. Department of Energy.” He added that assembling the large lathe could require up to eight people.

Miller's team comprises 20 students—ranging from doctoral candidates to undergraduates—who are tasked with designing a lathe half the size and weight of the incoming model. The challenge lies in maintaining precision while using mostly aluminum, known for its flexibility under stress.

Despite not having received the heavyweight lathe yet, Miller stated that work has been ongoing for over two years using existing equipment. “The new lathe will simply provide the baseline for the most accurate system that could exist,” he said.

LANL has recognized MSU's expertise by hiring six graduates from Miller’s lab over the past two years and more than 40 students in total over five years. Michael Strand, a senior mechanical engineering major from Selah, Washington, anticipates graduating this May and values his experience working on various lathes at MSU. He noted that none match the size or accuracy of the forthcoming machine.

Strand expressed hope that he can work with the new lathe before graduation: “The lathe that the lab is receiving will differ in several ways from the ones I’ve operated.” He believes it would be a valuable addition to his resume.

Miller emphasized the opportunity this presents for students: “Our students will have the ability to work with the gold standard of lathe technology.”