Science is expensive. From beakers to high priced machines, the cost continues to add up. That’s where Brian Grindstaff comes in. As an experimental machinist for CNAS, he can usually make whatever professors need for research. 

Grindstaff ensures that needs are being met. With his creativity and expertise, he can make almost anything a reality.  

“If someone in the department sees something, or finds something that’s out of the budget, then we can see what we can do to manufacture something of our own,” Grindstaff said. 

One project Grindstaff recently finished was a Reuben’s firebox, where soundwaves are displayed as fire.

“I do like some of the more challenging, more technical stuff,” Grindstaff said.  

Don’t sweat the small stuff 

Even smaller projects can make a huge impact. For years, professors and students have been seeing the data on their machines and typing it into a database. With a gadget that Grindstaff made, it now just dumps the information into a spreadsheet. It saves time and ensures accuracy.  

Grindstaff was also able to make a copper insert that presses pellets for chemistry for $48 instead of the $350 they retail for.   

These are only a few of the many projects Grindstaff has undertaken.