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Show 19 June 10, 1999 Science and Engineering Laboratory mm m n o n n tII i n r s )0 by Mary Galbriath Hilltop Times staff When 100 gallons of paint expire in a bolt keeps snapping under or asbestos is suspected in office ceiling tiles, one organization comes to the rescue. The Science and Engineering Laboratory at Hill AFB covers extremely diverse areas of expertise and has high tech equipment and expert personnel solving problems basewide. In addition to its ISO 9002 Registered Quality System and EPA certifications for the last month, the lab has operated with two of the most prestigious certifications a material laboratory can attain - the ISO 9002 registered Quality System and the Fastener Quality Act Accredited Laboan F-1- 6 ratory certifications. "These certification programs give our customers a high degree of confidence in our analytical results.'They know that they can count on the fact we are giving them good quality," said Steven Nelson, chief ot the bcience ana engineering Laboratory. "It's been our internal goal to build our laboratory into the region's most respected laboratory - the laboratory of choice for our customers. In large measure we've been able to achieve that but it's been a big requirement to keep it up. Nelson credits laboratory success to four areas: highly skilled scientists, engineers and technicians; state of the art instrumentation; a recently modernized facility and the laboratory information management system. "The thing that's really unique at the Science and Engineering Laboratory is our highly skilled scientists, engineers and technicians," Nelson said. "It's the people that make the difference here in the laboratory and the other factor is the state of the art instrumentation that exists within plllilllp iiBie isisMs?; I hit m m in m 111 -- kt i m w:m ill n t - 1 i 4 I - & ' f A v:? $ S I v if i?;.r ;j i i wmm f mmmw: i If I t " - I t ?; 111 1 w Nj mmm:f!: m - - 1 1 nn rn - $ ts m 11 ,v- m mw-&jmm- mm&MMsmxmMmmmm$v v- nyu--- ' " t ' p . Bill s iM m iwpi msmmixtmMmm i i "V j ' I If mmm ; msMimm i - i " m ": r X ! s , r-iV- M f 1 V"A w& . r - s ' ' w ; -- the laboratory. Millions of dollars worth of instrumentation here in the laboratory allows these todo highly skilled scientists and technicians them." of the analytical work that is required high tech lab uses this metals. and to dissect parts can determine materials in .a metal This helps ascertain part to parts per million. what a part is made of and where any potential shortcoming may lie. Engineers can also areconstruct a discontinued part exactly from small state-of-the-ar- j ' "ri "ITi i l I VC! 1 'sill lilt Iif r I i j of tail. The part was sent to the lab so engineers could determine why it failed. It's one Jerrv Tondreau surveys a broken the unusual items that fills one room at the lab. F-- " If I i,1 . ) z t, The amount of material using this process. The lab also uses equipment and expertise to extend the life of perishable items like paint and chemicals. This is important because it eliminates procurement of new supplies and the chemicals are posal of chemicals. Many base highly toxic and disposal can be more expensive than the original purchase price. All this as the lab strives to provide quality results, ' in reasonable turnaround times at.competitive ' - I costs. While the lab works on a variety of projects, its primary purpose is to provide sustaining supwhere the Fasport in weapon engineering. That's tener Quality Act certification comes in. accred"Fasteners for aircraft must be tested by h and the lab ited labs to ensure they're dimenis able to identify material strengths and we l t sional as well because if a fastener doesn fit Qualit won't stay on," said Dr. Gerard Tondreau, Dimensional and ity Manager for the Materials labolabs. Dozens of other tests are run at theresults ratory ensuring it provides high quality ' . and on more than fasteners. cola is According to Tondreau, the laboratory that and of this and pieces lection point for bits of broken a because they're able to test variety what contributed to equipment and identify to small failure. Everything from landing gear are electronic equipment to chemicals samples tested and stored awaiting final disposition to test all the The lab has an array of equipment advances incoming items. With rapid technological 0 on top-notc- most scientific instruments last 5-1- years ' i - " L- - i , - w - . nnun Warren measures an component to ensure the in his depart- replacement part dimensions are exact. Engineers ment work on granite tops secured in bedrock and at a constant room temperature to guarantee precise measurements. F-- 16 average. Tondreau said there are a limited few that last "forever" in scientific terms without 20 plus years. replacement lab also has what might be considered John Jusko checks the pressure reading as he tests an F-- brake sample. dealt with an 6 tail that was shipped in from a Hawaii unit. The back half of the part snapped under stress and engineers were charged with determining why. They examined the breaks and mechanics inside the tail and discovered cetain F-1- flight operations overstressed thea part. That's basis ultimate dishwasher. But, according to just one of the problems solved on regular at the lab. it's one that no piece of is routine to lab engineers. When will want to make contact with. To avoid which projects stood out as contaminating samples and results, glassware is particularly outstanding work direccleaned in the machine with special acids that said the staff is solving complex problems Hunspray off all metals and organic residues. each tors on a daily basis and nothing less than outstanddreds of pieces are run through the machine ing is accepted. In fact, the lab has been in the week. laboratories during Some engineers require clean glassware while top echelon of all materials And the has set standards others work on projects that demand granite plat- its entire existence. 100 times more proficient than are forms in rooms with temperatures controlled within for itself that two degrees to assure results are accurate. The general Air Force guidelines. invites anyone interested in the lab granite table are laid on top of a concrete base to toTondreau contact him for more information or a tour, ensure it's stable for dimensional analysis. One project lab engineers recently resolved at Ext. The Tup-perwa- ' re Variety |