Metal Workshop
Whether drilling, bending, milling, sawing, welding, or pressing — in our metal workshop you’ll find the right machine along with expert guidance and support for your metal project!
In our metal workshop training sessions, you can playfully learn the fundamentals of metalworking that you need to start your first projects independently, with support available whenever required.
Where elsewhere you might hear “hands off,” with us it’s: “Come here! Give it a try! We’ll help you! Keep going!” After completing the safety briefings, you’ll be able to work quite independently. Dive into the ‘Club of metalworking’!
Who is the contact person for the metal workshop?
title: Dietmar Krukowski
Dietmar Krukowski
"Hi, my name is Dietmar. At the RUB Makerspace, I’m the workshop manager for the Metal Workshop. If you have anything related to metal, I’m happy to be your point of contact. As a former Opel employee here on the site, I’ve experienced the development of industry firsthand and gained a great deal of experience in technology and later in training. I’m looking forward to supporting you with your projects and helping you move them forward."
- For general inquiries, feel free to contact our team here.
- For specific questions, you can reach me directly at:
- Instructor for retraining participants in the metal sector at BFZ in Essen BFZ Essen GmbH
- Member of the IHK Essen examination board for industrial mechanics and machining mechanics
- Instructor for industrial mechanics in the training workshop of Adam Opel AG
- Many years of experience as a maintenance technician at Adam Opel AG
- Extensive experience in CNC and conventional milling
- Tool expert at TCM International Tool Consulting and Management
How to Use the Metal Workshop
To work in the metal workshop, you must first attend the General Safety Briefing. After that, you can register for the basic metal workshop introduction. Many machines require prior experience, so you will only be allowed to operate them independently after sufficient training and instruction.
If you would like to use our metal workshop, simply let us know on site or contact us.
Go to the 'Metal Workshop' work folder with additional documents
In this folder you will find additional documents related to the metal workshop, such as operating manuals, safety instructions, tutorials, and other resources to support your work.
As always: together we are stronger — we appreciate every contribution to our shared pool of knowledge and experience!
What You Can Do in the Metal Workshop
Below you will find a detailed description of each of these areas.
Sheet Metal Processing
Bending is a manufacturing process in which a bending moment is applied to the material, resulting in plastic, permanent deformation.
When bending sheet metal, the shape is changed by folding or forming the material.
Our Equipment (links lead to the manufacturers’ websites):
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- 1250 mm working width
- Cutting capacity up to 3 mm depending on material
- Back gauge up to 630 mm
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- 1020 mm working width
- Maximum bending angle 135°
- Bending capacity mild steel 2.5 mm
- Bending capacity stainless steel 1.5 mm
- Bending capacity aluminum 3 mm
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Rundbiegemaschine RBM 1270-25E
- 1270 mm working width
- Bending capacity
- Steel 2.5 mm
- Stainless steel 1.8 mm
- Aluminum 3.0 mm
- Minimum bending diameter 135 mm
Drill Presses
A drill press is ideal for creating holes in solid materials. With us, you can drill into a wide range of materials — whether steel, aluminum, or plastic.
Our Equipment (links lead to the manufacturers’ websites):
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Säulenbohrmaschine Optidrill DH28BV
- Drilling capacity up to 28 mm
- Drilling capacity up to 18 mm
Lathes
Turning is the exciting process of machining round parts. Using lathes, you can produce cylindrical components with steps, shoulders, and contours.
Our Equipment (links lead to the manufacturers’ websites):
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- Center distance 650 mm
- Swing over bed 360 mm
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Profi 550 WQV Bernardo Leitspindeldrehmaschine
- Center distance 550 mm
- Center height 125 mm
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Maximum swing over bed 250 mm
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Milling attachment:
- Drilling capacity 16 mm
- Face mill maximum 50 mm
- End mill maximum 16 mm
- Swiveling -90° to 90°
Milling Machines
Milling is used to manufacture components with flat surfaces or contours. Not every part can be produced using 3D printing. Components made from steel, aluminum, brass, and copper are often milled, and plastics can also be machined this way.
Our Equipment (links lead to the manufacturers’ websites)
- Okuma GENOS M460V-5AX
- CNC 5-axis machining center, suitable for complex geometries and simultaneous multi-axis machining.
- Table diameter Ø 400 mm
- Travel 762 mm × 460 mm × 460 mm
- Main spindle speed 15,000
- Avia FNX 30PNC
- Manual milling machine that can also be programmed for simple linear movements. Curves cannot be programmed, and there is no CAM function.
- Table size 710 mm x 315 mm
- Travel 400 mm x 315 mm x 350 mm
- Control: TNC 128 Heidenhain contour control
- Variable speed max. 3000 rpm
Measuring and Inspection
If a component is to function correctly in an assembly, measuring and verifying the required dimensions is essential. In our basic workshop, you will learn how to identify and interpret measurements.
Our Equipment (links lead to the manufacturers’ websites):
- Mitutoyo Messgerät
- Various handheld measuring tools (micrometers, gauges, and more)
Pressing
Sometimes two workpieces need to be pressed together. Pressing is well suited for this purpose. Of course, the components must be manufactured beforehand in a way that makes the process feasible.
Our Equipment (links lead to the manufacturers’ websites):
- Werkstattpresse Compac 25t
- Force 25 tons
- Stroke 240 mm
- Manual lever press
Welding / Thermal Cutting
Welding enables a wide range of design possibilities. In general, welded constructions use material efficiently, are relatively simple and fast to produce, and therefore cost-effective. For joining metals, welding is typically the best permanent (non-detachable) connection.
Our Equipment (links lead to the manufacturers’ websites):
- Kemppi Fast MIG Pulse 450
- Artec Topweld EL (manual electrode welding machine)
- Artec Topweld TIG 300 DC (TIG steel welding machine)
- Kemppi Master TIG MLS 4000
- Migatronic PI 250 AC/DC
- Plasma-Handschneidinverter CUTi-35
- Material thickness 0.5 – 12 mm
- Electrically conductive materials.
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