Science and Engineering Mechanical Workshop

Projects

Find out about some of the projects involving the Science and Engineering Mechanical Workshop.

Hybrid Solar Panel

Hybrid solar panel heats water while generating electricity

The technology, developed by Naked Energy’s chief engineer Richard Boyle, integrates an electricity-generating photovoltaic cell into a hot-water-generating solar thermal panel. The solar thermal panels are placed into vacuum tubes and are unaffected by ambient temperature.

UK renewables company Naked Energy has invented Virtu, a hybrid solar panel that simultaneously heats water and generates electricity and the Science and Engineering Mechanical Workshop, has been working with Naked Energy to put the hybrid panel into production; making dyes and various tools.

Read more about this project.


Hybrid Solar Panel

Copper parts for Ion trap research

We have been involved in making these parts for the teams involved with quantum physics at Sussex.

These are mating parts, used for fastening structures together in a lab environment.

They have been made using conventional milling and wire eroding methods.


Hybrid Solar Panel

Aluminium front-wheel hub

This was produced for the Formula Student project, which occurs every year. Students design and build a car from scratch, ready to race in July after the British Grand Prix.

It has been made on our CNC mill and was machined from a solid block.


Hybrid Solar Panel

Upright for racing car

This upright was designed for the Formula Student car that's put together at Sussex.

Like above, it has been machined from solid. The first few operations were carried out on our wire eroder. This allowed us to achieve the detailed pattern and maintain the strength of the material.


Hybrid Solar Panel

Framework and engine for car

Here's another aspect of the Formula Student car we work on.

The frame has been welded using MIG. The engine mounts were machined and welded on once complete. We managed to achieve some intricate angles in the framework, as shown, with the help of a belt sander.


Hybrid Solar Panel

Gyroscopes for student project

These were put together for a third-year student project. They are the same part but made from different materials: aluminium, nylon and brass. These produce different weights, so you would hope to see different effects during testing.