Faculty
Dr. David Gill is an Assistant Professor of Manufacturing Engineering at Western Washington University. He teaches Introduction to Manufacturing, Intro to CAM & CNC, Advanced CAM & CNC, and Design of Tooling. Research interests include machining processes, precision manufacturing and precision engineering, CNC, CAM, and thermal energy storage in utility-scale solar. Before coming to WWU, David was a research engineer at Sandia National Laboratories in Albuquerque, NM.
Dr. Derek Yip-Hoi is an Associate Professor of Manufacturing Engineering at Western Washington University. He teaches courses in CAD, CAM and CNC, Senior Design, Design for Manufacture and Assembly, and Mechanisms. Research interests include honeycomb machining for both metals and aramids, geometric modeling for virtual machining, methods for computing cutter/workpiece engagement in milling, and manufacturing education focused on CAD/CAM/CNC concepts and skills. Dr. Yip-Hoi has prior experience teaching at University of British Columbia and conducting research at University of Michigan.
Students 2021-22
Eric Gershon is a Manufacturing Engineering major at Western Washington University. He worked with Dr. Gill during the spring quarter of 2022 manufacturing copper rods for the compression molds. He enjoys photography, golf, frisbee, and anything that requires hands-on work to solve a problem.
Evan Colwell is a Manufacturing Engineering major at Western Washington University. His inspiration comes from discoveries in astronomy, and hoping he can be a part of one someday. He performed research led by Dr. David Gill during spring quarter 2022 working specifically with the modeling of hole placement on a B-side compression mold.
Benjamin Roberts is a Manufacturing Engineering student at WWU. Ben worked with Dr. Gill on the Sekisui research project and on the honeycomb machining project in 2021. He enjoys weightlifting/powerlifting, designing and manufacturing race car parts for WWU’s FSAE team, and almost anything involving hands on crafting
Allen Dolph is a manufacturing engineering major at Western Washington University. In Spring 2022, he researched under Dr. David Gill on the compression mold project with SEKISUI. His research interests include precision machining, materials sciences, and metrology. He enjoys playing music, as well.
Past Students
2017-2018
Georgia Donaldson is a Manufacturing Engineering Undergraduate at Western Washington University. She is interested in the application of CAD/CAM software relative to CNC machining and the relationship between design and business. Georgia performed research lead by Dr. Gill and Dr. Yip-Hoi in the Summer of 2017 for honeycomb composite sandwich machining.
Stefan Kutz is studying at Western and is working through the Manufacturing Engineering major. He is inspired to apply his degree to help and improve the environment around him. During the summer of 2017 he took part in Dr. Gill and Dr. Yip-Hoi’s research project involving the machining of aerospace honeycomb composites.
Lukas Mackaay is currently attending Western Washington University as a Manufacturing Engineering student. He is looking forward to expanding his knowledge over the coming years to apply to his personal projects as well as industry. Lukas worked with Dr. Gill and Dr. Yip-Hoi on the WWU Advanced Machining Research Team looking specifically at the machining of honeycomb composite sandwich during the summer of 2017.
2016-2017
Aidan Anderson: Manufacturing Engineering student at Western Washington University. Fascinated by photovoltaics, interstellar travel, and thermal combustion engines. Performed research Summer 2016 on honeycomb machining with a team lead by Dr. David Gill.
Max Meaker is a senior at Western Washington University where he is majoring in Manufacturing Engineering. His interests in manufacturing are advanced CNC machining along with CAD/CAM software and tool design. Max has worked at Tri-Tec Manufacturing as an engineering intern since 2013 and was apart of Western’s Honeycomb Machining Research Team during the summer of 2016.