Electrical and computer engineering projects take many forms. No matter where they begin, most eventually reach a point where the work depends on mechanical decisions. 

Maybe a circuit board needs a custom enclosure for safety, a sensor requires a precision-machined metal fixture, a prototype demands better cooling, or a test setup needs a welded structure that can survive repeated use.  

These practical considerations play a major role in whether a project moves forward or stalls. 

The new mechanical Shop in the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering (ECE) was built for exactly these types of moments. 

“It is a space where projects across ECE can develop the structural, mechanical, and material foundations they need to become reliable in real‑world use,” said Brandon Royal, who manages the mechanical shop. 

A Need That Kept Resurfacing 

The shop grew from years of informal problem‑solving. Before it ever took shape as a dedicated resource, Royal had already become the person students and researchers sought out whenever a project required a mechanical solution beyond what a typical makerspace or lab could offer. 

Royal began his career at Georgia Tech in 2013 in the former Prototyping Machine Shop in the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, contributing to the development of the Montgomery Machining Mall.  

He joined ECE in 2016 and spent much of his career in Professor Emeritus Deepak Divan’s Center for Distributed Energy (CDE), where high‑power prototypes and complex electrical hardware presented everyday design challenges. From mounting to connections, cooling, and isolation, mechanical needs were consistently addressed. 

When CDE activities shifted after Divan retired from Georgia Tech in 2025, the steady stream of mechanical questions did not disappear. The demand underscored the need for a space that blended mechanical skill with electrical understanding. 

“This space has a clear purpose,” Royal said. “It exists to support projects wherever mechanical decisions matter. This means providing design-integrated mechanical support, from straightforward questions to more complex systems involving higher levels of risk or electrical interaction.” 

That support is collaborative and iterative. Royal works with users early, sketching and brainstorming to define what an often “unknown mechanical part” needs to do. Concepts then may move through computer-aided design (CAD) iterations, 3D‑printed prototypes, and into durable builds ready for repeated lab testing or real‑world use.  

“People usually have the electrical side worked out, but the mechanical piece is less clear,” Royal said. “The goal is to help turn an early idea into something functional and safe, and into a result the student can be proud of.” 

Supporting ECE’s Culture of Hands‑On Engineering 

ECE is one of the largest and most deeply specialized programs in the country, with research and instruction spanning semiconductors and circuits, power electronics and systems, bioengineering, computer architecture, robotics, sensing, and more. 

Across this breadth, research groups frequently need custom mechanical solutions that directly affect electrical performance and safety. 

Ph.D. student Piyush Chauhan, a member of Professor Baoyun Ge’s Electric Machines Lab, has used the shop to fine tune his CAD designs, refine mechanical solutions, and develop prototypes that advance the lab’s research on high‑efficiency electric powertrain systems. His work integrates electric machines, power electronics, and advanced control strategies—efforts that depend on custom parts, precise assemblies, and rapid prototyping. 

Chauhan says the ECE mechanical shop offers far more than fabrication. Unlike a traditional machine shop where students simply submit designs, it functions as a collaborative, hands‑on environment where designs improve through guided iteration. 

“Brandon keeps a constant feedback loop with me and helps co‐design mechanical solutions around real constraints like fits, tolerances, materials, and assembly,” Chauhan said. “The shop’s specialized tools, plus one‑on‑one guidance, made iteration fast and educational. It has helped me grow real confidence as a more well‑rounded Georgia Tech engineer.” 

The mechanical shop’s resources have also opened the door for students to experiment beyond coursework, applying mechanical skills to their own ideas and personal projects. 

Peter Chen, a third‑year computer engineering student, has been using the shop to disassemble, study, and rebuild bicycle components as he works toward designing his own electric bike. 

Hannah Xiao, a first‑year master’s student researching under Professor Lukas Graber, has been learning to weld in the shop as part of a high‑voltage power systems project, gaining the practical fabrication skills needed to build safe, structurally sound enclosures. 

The Next Phase 

Royal expects the shop to grow as more students discover what they can achieve with it. In the coming months, he anticipates adding focused training modules covering topics such as mechanical fundamentals, material selection, CAD design, machining and welding, and mechanical integration techniques that support safe, reliable electrical hardware.  

As demand increases, student assistants may also be hired to support day‑to‑day activities, training sessions, and peer mentoring under staff supervision. 

“Students already play a meaningful role in shaping the shop’s evolution,” Royal said. “Their projects continuously refine how the space operates.” 

Beyond fabrication or technical troubleshooting, Royal believes the shop’s deeper value lies in helping students and researchers develop practical engineering judgment.  

“The more people use the shop, the more they realize mechanical design isn’t a barrier,” Royal said. “It’s a tool that expands what their ECE work can become.” 

That shift in perspective often becomes real in hands‑on moments of discovery in the shop. 

“I’ve seen the look on people’s faces when they have that ‘A‑HA!’ moment, and they realize they’re capable of tackling hardware challenges they once thought were out of their realm,” Royal said. “The confidence they leave with—both personally and as better engineers—is tremendous.” 

Working on something that might benefit from the ECE mechanical shop? Email Brandon Royal at broyal@gatech.edu.