Green Apron System
The Product Realization Facility has equipment for use by both beginner and advanced users. Advanced users are known as the ‘Green Aprons’ because they wear green aprons in shop. Green apron users are allowed to use any of the machines in the facility – this includes several mills and lathes specifically for their use only.
To qualify for to become a ‘Green Apron’ user, one must meet the following minimum requirements:
- have taken MAE 225 **
- 2 years experience or other approved substitution
- final check out by staff member
Meeting these qualifications allows you to wear a green shop apron (these are available in the lab). If you are a green apron user you must wear the apron when operating the green apron equipment. Wearing the green apron allows the staff to quickly determine the experience level of the users in the shop, whether users are approved to use the equipment and also provides less experienced users someone to request assistance from.
* Students in MAE 225 are not allowed to use the Green Apron equipment for their coursework, regardless of Green Apron status.
** It is possible to qualify for Green Apron status without MAE 225 (with equivalent training / experience, for instance, having taken the Basic Training course combined with significant machine shop experience). This is determined on a case by case basis by the technical staff in the lab.
