Mechanical Workshop

The Mechanical Workshop delivers an on-site fabrication facility for custom-made, precision mechanical items for use in scientific research.

Members of the Workshop working on the facility machines

GET IN TOUCH:

John Prentice - Workshop Manager

Email: john.prentice@oncology.ox.ac.uk

Telephone: +44 (0)1865 617369

John Prentice heads the Mechanical Workshop and is ably assisted by Kyle Hallett. Together, they have over 40 years of experience in tackling an extensive range of design, machining, cutting, and assembly of mechanical items.

WHAT WE DO

The Mechanical Workshop supports a wide range of research projects, within the Department of Oncology, across the other University departments, and beyond.

The Workshop offers a ‘one stop shop’ and services include consultation, computer aided design drawings (CAD), material sourcing and computer numerical control machining (CNC). These range from individual prototypes to complex assemblies of many hundreds of components.

The process of work flow in the Workshop (l-r): A customer idea or sketch is developed using a computer-aided design (CAD) drawing. The design is then created at the manufacturing stage, at which point the finished product is created for the customer.

The Workshop is equipped with a 2.5 and 3-axis CNC milling machines and a CNC lathe which, in conjunction with industry-standard CAD software, allow rapid prototyping of often highly complex and unique components with high precision and repeatability. A range of conventional, manually operated machines and equipment for cutting, drilling, welding, fabrication and sheet metal work complement the automated machines.

As part of the Workshop Quality Management System we employ a variety of UK Accreditation Service (UKAS) calibrated inspection equipment including a state of the art image dimension measuring system.

If you would like to know more about our services, and how we can help you, please contact the John in the Workshop (details above).