Engineering at Sweet Briar is based on a hands-on, lab-intensive curriculum that emphasizes the design process. Our graduates learn to translate fundamental principles into design applications that are socially relevant, ethically responsible and economically viable.
Electronics and Mechatronics Lab
- Oscilloscopes
- Multimeters
- Microcontrollers
- Wide range of sensors and electrical components
- Electromechanical actuators
Engineering Computer and Rapid Prototyping Lab
- 20 Dell Desktop PCs
- 14 Dell laptop PCs
- Software (Autodesk Inventor, MathWorks MATLAB, MathWorks Simulink, National Instruments Multisim)
- 3-D printers (Airwolf 3D Axiom Dual Extruder 3D Printer, LulzBot Mini, Stratasys uPrint SE Plus)
- Tabletop CNC router (Inventables Carvey)
- 3D scanner (Artec 3D Space Spider)
- 60-watt laser engraver and cutter with a 24″x12″ engraving area (Epilog Zing 24)
Introductory Design Lab
This lab provides a large open space for introductory and intermediate design courses.
Laser and Optical Device Lab
- Scanning electron microscope (Hitachi TM4000)
- Q-switched YAG laser
- Optical parametric oscillator
- Detection for time-resolved fluorescence
- Polymer thin-film fabrication
Machine Shop
- CNC mill
- Lathe
- Drill press
- Bandsaw
- Wide variety of hand tools
Materials Testing and Thermodynamics Lab
- Concrete tester
- Hardness tester
- Impact tester
- Tensile tester
- Thermal conductivity sensor
- Research grade recirculating wind tunnel
- Fluid properties measuring instruments
- Pump and fan test rigs
- Heat exchanger test equipment
- Free and forced convection test equipment
Senior Design Lab
This lab provides space for seniors to work on their capstone design projects.
Water Quality Lab
- Lake buoys with integrated water quality probes and remote data processing capabilities
- TOC analyzer (Shimadzu TOC-L)
- Multi-sensor water quality probe
- Drying oven
- Turbidimeter
- X-ray diffraction instrument
- Handheld chlorine analyzer