January 27, 2025
By Mikey Fuller

Drilling, threading, or knurling, students can do it all in the Montgomery Machining Mall (MMM) where they’re given the opportunity to build and manufacture prototypes for school projects or gain experience on specific machines.

The machining mall supports academic and research projects for the George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, the School of Electrical and Computer Engineering, the School of Materials Science and Engineering, and the College of Sciences at Georgia Tech. MMM employees maintain a professional learning space with a focus on safety.

Anyone who has spent time in the MMM in the past year has probably seen or asked for help from Harley Martin, a fourth-year student in the Woodruff School who recently completed a cooperative education program, also known as a co-op, in the Wepfer Design Commons space.

Co-ops allow students to use their disciplinary knowledge on the job to not only reinforce and sharpen their classroom learning, but also to make meaningful contributions in the workplace.

Martin said she was determined to work in the MMM after her academic advisor brought her to meet the machine shop manager and take a tour of the facility.

“I felt welcome and had the chance to meet all the staff members,” she said. “The environment was so positive and confirmed my desire to get the experience of working with machines.”

A typical MMM co-op alternates between full-time study and three semesters of full-time work, which involves 8–10-hour shifts depending on the semester. Students can learn hands-on skills with more than 30 different machines including manual lathes, mills, and computer numerical control (CNC) machines.

Martin said even though she's a student, she was treated like every other staff member who was expected to fulfill all the same responsibilities. Some of her main job duties included helping students with their questions and guiding them through machine operations. She also fabricated parts for research based on specific job requests.

Martin said her favorite part of the co-op was being able to help other students and give tours. “I loved sharing information about the equipment and helping people understand all the capabilities there are in the shop."

According to Martin, the support from the MMM staff has made a difference in her life and experience at Georgia Tech.

“The staff has been so welcoming, and everyone has been willing to help with anything,” Martin said. "I have formed a relationship with every staff member and see them as family. I appreciate them all dearly. Words can’t capture how grateful I am to have had the chance to get to work with such a great team.”

Nathan Mauldin, machine shop supervisor, said Martin became the face of the MMM during her co-op.

“Working with Harley has been a real pleasure,” Mauldin said. "It was great to watch her go from not knowing anything about machining, to becoming so proficient in manual and CNC machines that she was able to teach others. I know Harley will go on to do great things.”

Martin finished her final co-op rotation last summer but continues to work as a student assistant in the MMM. She is open to exploring different career options after she graduates, but working in the machining mall has increased her interest in manufacturing, and she would love to use the skills she learned in the shop in whichever career she chooses.