Machine Tool Metrology Journal Notebooks

I. Important Comments
   A. These are not undergraduate style lab reports !!!
   B. These are a record of work in a laboratory environment.
   C. They should be complete enough that someone else who doesn't know you or anything about the project can follow what has been done.
   D. Use narrative conversational style.
   E. Write in full sentences when explaining the details!!!
   F. The following are not meant to be sections but things included in the narrative of the work.

II. Journal Generalities
   A. Each page should be signed and dated by the researcher.
   B. Each page should have the signature of reviewer and date.
           (not necessary for class, in a company setting this is important for patents)
   C. Each page needs "Continued from page" and "Continued on page" notations if work is not sequential.
   D. The journal notebook should be bound and have sequentially numbered pages
   E. No unattached pages are acceptable. (Graphs or pictures should be affixed with tape, etc. see XII)

III. Description of Work
   
   A. The models and physical relationships used for the basis of experimentation should be described.
   B. The symbols used for mathematical modeling should be defined clearly and unambiguously.
   C. State the parameters being investigated. Include which are the controlled parameters, uncontrolled, and related parameters (temperature, pressure, humidity, materials parameters)
   D. As you go from procedure to procedure, state the purpose including what and why you are doing things.
   E. References to other related materials, standards, or instruction manuals may be included to minimize writing.

IV. Equipment Used
   A. Record the unit under test: Model, make, manufacturer, serial #, date of manufacture etc.
   B. Record the testing instrumentation: Model, manufacturer, operation, settings etc.
   C. Record the physical locations (e.g. in high bay area of the Cameron building).
   D. Record the setups description (diagrams are useful), mounts used, etc.

V. Procedures followed.
   A. List each action that you performed including techniques etc.
   B. Diagrams and flow charts may be included for better understanding.

VI. Recorded Data
   A. Record the measurement of related parameters or location & name of computer data file, an attached disc (with written table of contents) in the journal may be helpful but shouldn't replace graphs.
   B. Include graphs of data regarding investigated parameter relationships and reference the graphs in the text. See also XIII.
   C. Illustrate and/or note any observable trends in data.

VII. Computer Programs used
   A. Refer to data acquisition programs by name and location.
   B. Record or refer to CNC machine programs and where they are stored.
   C. Record raw data files locations and keep backups.
   D. Record analytical data files (which process raw data)  locations and keep backups

VIII. Observations - Related and Unrelated
   A. Be alert to all that you can including things other than the specific details of the work performed. This includes any quirks of the equipment, things others may be doing around you, changes in surroundings, condition of equipment, adjustments to equipment and reasons for doing them, noticeable vibrations, interruptions, changes to original procedures, difficulties, etc.

IX. Data Analysis and Inferred Conclusions
   A. Reference equations and theory; include what measured data goes where in the equations, values calculated from equations, and corrections applied to data etc.
   B. Write a statement containing what you think the experiment/analysis revealed and the logic behind the conclusions.
   C. Write any interesting observations that you made during the experimentation.
.
X. Ideas for further experimentation
   A. If you think any further experiments may be necessary, record them along with why you think they need to be done.

XI. Referencing Information within the journal
   A. In order to make easy reference within the journal, a margin label such as (#1,#2) may be used. #1 may refer to the page in the journal and #2 may refer to the line or note number on the page, so that, (34,2) refers to note or reference number 2 on page 34. This saves time when the same equipment or procedure is used to do several related or similar experiments. 

XII. Attachments
   A. Often it is desirable to include a computer printout of a graph, email, data, etc, within the journal. Do not attach pages which have to be folded if at all possible. Graphs should be reduced in size then cut and taped or pasted. Initial and or dating the insertion across the page/attachment boundary is helpful to determine if modifications have been made to the original insertion.

XIII. Graphs
   A. Graphs included in the notebook should be referenced and have easily visible scales and titles for each axis along with the units (mm, sec etc). If multiple results are included in the same graph, each data set should be identified by a legend or notation. The graphs should fit within the margins of the journal while maintaining the visual information. Do not fold the graphs or mount multiple graphs at the same location.
   B. Graphs should also be included which emphasize the differences from the expected value, i.e. subtract the theoretical value from the data and plot the residuals.

*** For class only you may take notes due to limited class time but detail should be written in your lab journals before the next class period. It will be checked.
*** If you are going to miss a class you will be responsible for contacting me beforehand bringing previous lab records.

This page managed by Jim Miller:     jamiller@uncc.edu    updated Jan, 2003