The Technical Services Facility (TSF) is made up of the Machine Shop and Electronics Shop. The TSF primarily serves the Physics Department programs and their tasks have precedence, but other UVa programs are invited to take advantage of some of the unique abilities of the facility.

Machine Shop [Request Help]

The machine shop has a staff of three full time machinists and spans eight rooms (3,760 sq. ft.), including a “Student” or “User” shop available to Physics and Chemistry researchers who have completed our shop course. The machine shop equipment suite includes nine mills (some with digital readout and CNC), eleven lathes (two CNC), numerous drill presses, grinders, and shapers.

Of special note is the welding shop (featuring MIG, TIG, and Oxy-Acetylene welding systems) and its demonstrated expertise in the welding of aluminum and stainless steel high vacuum systems. Staff are available (on a limited basis) to make “house calls” for field testing of systems with their portable helium leak checker (standard rates apply).

In addition to making instruments for Physics research, the machine shop is often called upon to build equipment for other University programs. Such jobs range from making devices for medical research to crafting hardware for Facilities Management.

See picture gallery of recent work.

For rate information and/or to arrange to have work done, please email the Machine Shop (Physics-Machine-Shop@Virginia.EDU) or call 434-924-6567.

Electronics Shop [Request Help]

The electronics shop has a full time Electronics Engineer and an Electronics Technician skilled in laboratory instrument construction and repair. Please see the Electronics Shop Wiki for more information.

For rate information and/or to arrange to have work done, please email the Electronics Shop (Phys-Electronics@Virginia.EDU) or call 434-982-5594 for design work or 434-924-6807 for technician work.

For more information regarding Physics department resources, please contact the Physics Department's Director of Laboratories, Rick Marshall.