IIHR has a great tradition in experimental laboratory studies.  A crucial factor in this success has been and continues to be the well equipped mechanical shop and dedicated highly-competent technical staff.  In addition to providing precision fabrication skills, the Mechanical Shop assists with infrastructure maintenance and improvements in IIHR’s nine buildings.

The Mechanical Shop crew specializes in highly accurate craftsmanship in transparent acrylic, transparent polycarbonate, white high density polyethylene, gray polyvinyl chloride, aluminum (all types), brass, stainless steel, black steel, and high density overlay marine-grade plywood.   

The Mechanical Shop crew uses a fully equipped machine shop (mills, lathes, band saws, drill presses), two hot-work booths (MIG, TIG, brazing), two carpentry areas (industrial table saws, routers, jointer, planer, miter saws, band saws), commercial-grade airless paint and body work area, sheet metal area (48” shears, brake, and roller), and a vast storage area for recycling instrumentation and equipment.  IIHR also has access to rapid prototyping, CNC mills, and thermoformed plastic beds for complex geometry fabrication.

The Mechanical Shop specializes in fabricating precision instrumentation and detailed scale replicas of hydraulic structures (below), and laboratory flumes. 

The Mechanical Shop recently constructed several large warehouse-sized models, including a 50 by 33 by 1.4 meter replica of the Columbia River gorge near Wanapum Dam.  For large construction projects as well as field activities, the Mechanical Shop maintains a broad assortment of mechanized equipment including skid loaders, dump trailers, tilt-bed trucks, and an industrial forklift.

Mechanical Shop Staff and Hours

Pete Haug, P.E., Mechanical Shop Supervisor

Steve Lasczcak, Supervisor of Shop Services

Mike Anderson, ERD Machinist Senior

Jim Goss, ERD Welder Senior

Brandon Barquist, Research Assistant

Shop hours are from 7:30 am to 5:00 pm Monday through Friday.  (Map)

IIHR Precision Instrumentation

The IIHR Mechanical Ship takes great pride in its craftsmanship.  Examples of their exceptional accuracy and detail are illustrated with these two manometers. IIHR has manufactured manometers for customers across the country.

Left: 10" Precision Manometer. (Available for sale at $1,295 or call for custom pricing.)

Right: 96" Multiport Manometer. (Available for sale at $1,295 or call for custom pricing.)

IIHR Hydraulic Structure Models

The IIHR Mechanical Shop constructs scale models of hydraulic structures for a variety of projects, a few of which are illustrated below.

Left: A custom 1:12.5 scale model of a Baffle-type drop structure.

Below: 1:5 scale model of the centrifugal pump designed by IIHR for the New York City lift station

Right: Transparent acrylic pump intake bell made on lathe to +/- 0.002 inch tolerances.

For more information about the IIHR Mechanical Shop, call or e-mail IIHR Shop Manager Pete Haug at 319 384-0936.