The Central Workshop of Parala Maharaja Engineering College, Berhampur, is a key academic and technical support facility that plays a vital role in imparting practical manufacturing education and skill-based training to engineering students. Serving as a bridge between theoretical knowledge and industrial practice, the workshop provides students with hands-on experience in manufacturing processes, fabrication techniques, machine operations, and product realization. As a common facility for all engineering disciplines, the Central Workshop offers structured practical training to undergraduate students, enabling them to transform engineering concepts and drawings into tangible products and components. This experiential learning enhances their technical competence, creativity, problem-solving skills, and confidence in engineering design and manufacturing.

The workshop houses several specialized sections, including the Welding Shop, Fitting Shop, Foundry Shop, Machine Shop, Turning/Lathe Shop, and CNC Shop. These facilities provide training in metalworking, machining, joining processes, casting, precision manufacturing, and computer-controlled production technologies. The workshop also supports project-based learning by facilitating the fabrication of academic projects, prototypes, and innovative product designs.

Beyond its instructional role, the Central Workshop serves as a central fabrication and manufacturing support center for faculty members, research scholars, and postgraduate students. It provides design, machining, welding, fabrication, and assembly assistance for undergraduate projects, M.Tech. dissertations, Ph.D. research work, sponsored research projects, and the development of experimental setups, testing rigs, special-purpose fixtures, and customized components. The workshop significantly contributes to research and innovation activities across various departments of the institute.

The Central Workshop also extends technical support for consultancy assignments and industry-oriented projects undertaken by PMEC Berhampur. Through its manufacturing expertise, modern equipment, and skilled technical personnel, the workshop facilitates prototype development, product realization, technology transfer activities, and industrial problem-solving initiatives. Such engagements strengthen academia–industry collaboration and provide valuable exposure to students and researchers in addressing real-world engineering challenges.

Committed to meeting the evolving demands of modern manufacturing and Industry 4.0/5.0 technologies, the Central Workshop continuously upgrades its infrastructure, equipment, and training methodologies. By integrating conventional manufacturing practices with advanced machining, automation, and computer-aided manufacturing technologies, the workshop fosters innovation, entrepreneurship, research excellence, and technical proficiency. Through these efforts, it contributes significantly to the holistic development of future engineers and supports the mission of PMEC Berhampur in delivering quality technical education and promoting technological advancement.

Educational Objectives of Central Workshop

1. To provide hands-on experience in basic manufacturing and fabrication processes.
2. To develop practical skills in the operation of workshop tools, machines, and equipment.
3. To bridge the gap between theoretical engineering concepts and industrial practices.
4. To cultivate safety awareness, professional ethics, and good workshop practices.
5. To encourage innovation, creativity, and problem-solving through product fabrication and prototyping.
6. To familiarize students with modern manufacturing technologies and automation systems.

Program Outcomes (POs) Supported by Central Workshop

Course Outcomes (COs) for Workshop Practice

Upon successful completion of Workshop Practice, students will be able to:

CO1: Identify and safely use common workshop tools, machines, and measuring instruments.

CO2: Perform fitting, welding, machining, drilling, and fabrication operations according to engineering drawings.

CO3: Manufacture simple engineering components using conventional workshop practices.

CO4: Demonstrate safe working procedures, professional ethics, and environmental awareness in workshop operations.

CO5: Work effectively in teams and communicate technical information related to manufacturing activities.

CO6: Apply modern manufacturing tools and CNC technology for component fabrication and prototype development.

Program Specific Outcomes (PSOs) Supported Through Workshop Training

PSO1: Apply manufacturing, fabrication, and machining principles to design and develop engineering components and systems.

PSO2: Utilize conventional and modern manufacturing tools, CNC systems, and welding technologies for industrial and research applications.

PSO3: Demonstrate practical competency in product realization, prototyping, testing, and maintenance activities relevant to engineering practice.

Role of Central Workshop and Graduate Attributes Development

The Central Workshop serves as an enabling platform for experiential learning, innovation, and professional skill development. It provides an environment where students can translate engineering ideas into functional products, develop an appreciation for manufacturing quality, and gain exposure to real-world engineering challenges. Through active participation in workshop activities, students cultivate a systematic approach to design realization, material selection, process planning, and component fabrication. The workshop contributes significantly to the development of industry-relevant competencies by fostering technical proficiency, critical thinking, teamwork, and a culture of continuous improvement. It also promotes innovation and entrepreneurship by supporting prototype development and product realization activities. Exposure to practical engineering tasks helps students understand the importance of precision, safety, quality control, resource optimization, and professional responsibility in engineering practice. As a result, the Central Workshop plays an important role in preparing students for higher studies, research, industrial careers, and entrepreneurial ventures.

Graduate Attributes Developed Through Workshop Practice

• Practical engineering and fabrication skills.
• Technical competency in manufacturing processes and machine operations.
• Creativity and innovation in product development and prototyping.
• Problem-solving and analytical abilities.
• Teamwork, collaboration, and leadership qualities.
• Safety consciousness and adherence to standard workshop practices.
• Quality awareness and precision in engineering work.
• Effective communication and documentation skills.
• Entrepreneurial mindset and innovation-driven thinking.
• Industry readiness through exposure to modern manufacturing technologies.
• Professional ethics and responsibility in engineering practice.

Activities Supported by the Central Workshop

• First-year engineering workshop practice and skill-development courses.
• Fabrication and manufacturing support for undergraduate projects.
• Development of postgraduate (M.Tech.) project work and dissertations.
• Design and fabrication support for Ph.D. research activities.
• Prototype development for innovation, incubation, and entrepreneurship initiatives.
• Fabrication of experimental setups, testing rigs, fixtures, and research equipment.
• Sponsored research and consultancy projects undertaken by the institute.
• Industry-oriented manufacturing, repair, and product development activities.
• Technical support for academic departments, laboratories, and institutional projects.
• Training in conventional and modern manufacturing technologies, including CNC machining and advanced welding processes.

From the Superintendent’s Desk

Welcome to the Central Workshop at Parala Maharaja Engineering College (PMEC), Berhampur. In the journey of engineering education, theoretical knowledge forms the foundation, but it is hands-on engineering experience that builds true innovation. The Central Workshop serves as the ultimate practical backbone of our institute, a central facility where foundational blueprints are transformed into physical realities.

Our facility is uniquely structured to bridge the gap between academic theory and real-world manufacturing engineering. Through our specialized engineering domains, including the Machine Shop, Turning/Lathe Shop, Fitting Shop, Welding Shop, Foundry Shop, and the advanced CNC Shop, undergraduate students encounter an environment that mirrors modern industrial settings. Here, young minds don’t just study processes; they operate equipment, perform precision job work, and actively experiment with core fabrication techniques.

Beyond day-to-day curriculum lab work, our mission is to foster an ecosystem of innovation. The Central Workshop proudly serves as an incubation hub where students design and fabricate their critical academic, B.Tech capstone, and competitive engineering projects. Furthermore, we extend our resources to support diverse institutional, M.Tech, and faculty research projects, driving technological development right from our campus floor.

Equipped with classic conventional machinery alongside advanced automated systems like the CNC Jobber Junior, we ensure our students graduate with a deep respect for industrial safety, precision craftsmanship, and digital manufacturing trends.

I invite you to explore our workshops, engage with our highly skilled technical staff, and utilize this advanced facility to its fullest potential. Let us build, innovate, and engineer a better tomorrow.

Regards,
Dr. Chitrasen Samantra
Workshop Superintendent
Parala Maharaja Engineering College. Berhampur

Staff Details

Sl. No	Employee Name	Designation	Contact No	Mail id	Photo
1	Dr. Chitrasen Samantra	Superintendent	–	[email protected]
2	Mr. Himansu Sekhar Panda	Machinist (CNC Operator, Turner)	–	[email protected]
3	Mr. Ajit Kumar Behera	Fitter	–	[email protected]
4	Mr. Krushna Chandra Padhy	Welder	–	[email protected]

Workshop Facilities and Major Equipment

The Central Workshop of PMEC Berhampur is equipped with a comprehensive range of conventional and modern manufacturing facilities that support academic instruction, skill development, research, innovation, and consultancy activities. The workshop provides an integrated environment for experiential learning, enabling students to acquire practical knowledge of manufacturing processes, fabrication techniques, machine operations, quality inspection, and product realization. It also serves as a key technical resource for prototype development, project fabrication, experimental setup preparation, and research-oriented manufacturing activities. To facilitate specialized training and efficient utilization of resources, the workshop is organized into distinct sections, namely the Machine Shop, Fitting Shop, Welding Shop, and CNC Shop. Each section is equipped with industry-relevant machines, tools, and instruments that provide hands-on exposure to conventional and advanced manufacturing technologies. Together, these facilities contribute to the development of technical competence, problem-solving abilities, innovation, and industry readiness among students while supporting the academic, research, and outreach objectives of the institute.

1. Machine Shop

The Machine Shop is a core manufacturing facility of the Central Workshop that provides practical training in conventional machining and material removal processes. The shop enables students to gain hands-on experience in producing engineering components with the required dimensional accuracy, geometric tolerances, and surface finish. Through various machining operations, students develop an understanding of machine tool operation, cutting tool selection, machining parameters, process planning, and quality control. The facility supports academic instruction, project fabrication, prototype development, research activities, and consultancy assignments involving precision machining and component manufacturing.

Major Machines and Equipment

Machine Tools

• Centre Lathe Machine: Used for turning, facing, taper turning, threading, knurling, grooving, drilling, boring, and other operations on cylindrical workpieces.
• Milling Machine: Used for producing flat surfaces, slots, keyways, gears, contours, and complex profiles using rotary cutting tools.
• Shaper Machine: Used for machining flat, inclined, vertical, and contoured surfaces through a reciprocating cutting action.
• Surface Grinding Machine: Used for precision finishing of components to achieve high dimensional accuracy and superior surface quality.
• Pedestal Drill Machine: Used for drilling, reaming, tapping, counterboring, and countersinking operations on various engineering materials.

Work-Holding and Supporting Devices

• Machine Vice: Used for securely holding workpieces during milling, drilling, and machining operations.
• Three-Jaw Self-Centering Chuck: Used for holding cylindrical and round workpieces during turning operations.
• Four-Jaw Independent Chuck: Used for holding irregularly shaped or eccentric workpieces with high precision.
• Face Plate: Used for mounting large, irregular, or non-cylindrical workpieces on the lathe machine.
• Lathe Centers (Live and Dead Centers): Used for supporting long workpieces during turning operations.
• Drill Chuck and Arbors: Used for mounting drills and cutting tools on drilling and machine tools.

Cutting Tools

• Single-Point Cutting Tools: Used for turning, facing, threading, grooving, and boring operations.
• Twist Drills: Used for producing holes of various diameters.
• Reamers: Used for improving hole accuracy and surface finish.
• Counterbores and Countersinks: Used for preparing holes for fasteners and assembly operations.
• Milling Cutters: Used for slotting, gear cutting, profiling, and surface machining operations.
• Grinding Wheels: Used for finishing and precision grinding applications.

Measuring and Inspection Instruments

• Vernier Caliper: Used for precise measurement of external, internal, and depth dimensions.
• Outside Micrometer: Used for high-accuracy measurement of diameters and thicknesses.
• Steel Rule: Used for general measurement and layout work.
• Surface Plate: Provides a precision reference surface for inspection and measurement activities.
• V-Block: Used for holding cylindrical components during measurement and inspection.
• Height Gauge: Used for accurate measurement and marking of vertical dimensions.

Lathe Machine

Milling Machine

 

2. Fitting Shop

The Fitting Shop is one of the fundamental training facilities of the Central Workshop, designed to develop essential bench-work skills and craftsmanship among engineering students. The shop provides hands-on training in measuring, marking, cutting, chipping, filing, drilling, threading, and assembly operations, which form the foundation of manufacturing and maintenance engineering. Through practical exercises, students learn the importance of dimensional accuracy, precision, workmanship, and quality control in component fabrication and assembly. The facility also supports project fabrication, prototype development, repair and maintenance activities, and research-related fabrication work.

Major Equipment and Tools

Machine Tools and Work-Holding Equipment

• Bench Grinder: Used for grinding, sharpening, deburring, and finishing metal components and cutting tools.
• Bench Drill Machine: Used for drilling, reaming, counterboring, countersinking, and tapping operations.
• Bench Vice: Used for securely holding workpieces during fitting, cutting, filing, drilling, and assembly operations.
• Power Saw (Power Hacksaw): Used for efficient cutting of metal bars, rods, pipes, and structural sections.
• Anvil: A heavy-duty forged steel block used as a support surface for hammering, bending, straightening, riveting, and shaping metal workpieces.

Cutting, Shaping, and Threading Tools

• Files (Flat, Round, Half-Round, Triangular, Square): Used for shaping, sizing, smoothing, finishing, and deburring surfaces.
• Hacksaw Frame and Blade: Used for manual cutting of metals and engineering materials.
• Cold Chisels (Flat, Cross-Cut, Round Nose, Diamond Point): Used for cutting, chipping, and shaping metal materials.
• Tap and Die Set: Used for producing internal and external threads on engineering components.
• Hand Reamer: Used for finishing drilled holes to achieve accurate dimensions and improved surface finish.

Measuring and Marking Instruments

• Steel Rule: Used for linear measurement and marking operations.
• Measuring Tape: Used for measuring larger dimensions and layouts.
• Try Square: Used for checking and marking right angles and perpendicularity.
• Combination Set: Used for measuring angles, checking squareness, and layout marking.
• Scriber: Used for marking reference lines on workpiece surfaces.
• Divider: Used for marking circles, arcs, and transferring dimensions.
• Odd-Leg (Jenny) Caliper: Used for scribing parallel lines and locating centers.
• Center Punch: Used for making indentation marks prior to drilling operations.
• Dot Punch: Used for marking reference points and layout lines.
• Vernier Caliper: Used for precise measurement of external, internal, and depth dimensions.
• Outside Caliper: Used for measuring external dimensions of workpieces.
• Inside Caliper: Used for measuring internal dimensions and hole diameters.
• Micrometer: Used for high-precision dimensional measurements.
• Surface Plate: Provides a precision reference surface for inspection and layout work.
• Angle Plate: Used for positioning and supporting workpieces at right angles.
• V-Block: Used for holding cylindrical workpieces during marking, drilling, and inspection.
• Thread Gauge: Used for checking thread profiles and pitch.
• Feeler Gauge: Used for measuring small gaps, clearances, and tolerances.

Hand Tools and Assembly Tools

• Ball Peen Hammer: Used for striking, riveting, shaping, and assembly operations.
• Cross Peen Hammer: Used for shaping and forming small metal sections.
• Spanner Set: Used for tightening and loosening nuts and bolts.
• Screwdrivers: Used for assembling and disassembling threaded fasteners.
• Pliers (Combination, Long Nose, and Side Cutting): Used for gripping, bending, twisting, and cutting wires and small components.
• C-Clamp (G-Clamp): Used for temporary holding and clamping of workpieces during fitting and assembly operations.

3. Welding Shop

The Welding Shop is a specialized facility dedicated to training students in various metal joining, fabrication, and repair processes widely used in manufacturing, construction, automotive, and heavy engineering industries. The shop provides hands-on experience in conventional and advanced welding techniques, enabling students to develop practical skills in fabrication, assembly, maintenance, and structural manufacturing. In addition to academic training, the facility supports project work, prototype development, research activities, and consultancy assignments requiring welding and fabrication expertise.

Major Equipment

• Arc Welding Machines (AC/DC Power Source): Used for Shielded Metal Arc Welding (SMAW) of ferrous and non-ferrous materials in fabrication, repair, and maintenance applications.
• Oxy-Acetylene Gas Welding Set: Used for gas welding, brazing, soldering, flame cutting, and heating operations in metal fabrication and repair work.
• TIG Welding Machine (Tungsten Inert Gas Welding): Used for high-quality precision welding of stainless steel, aluminum, and other non-ferrous alloys where superior weld quality and surface finish are required.
• MIG/MAG Welding Machine (Metal Inert/Active Gas Welding): Used for high-speed, high-productivity welding of thin and thick metal sections with excellent weld quality and efficiency.

Welding Simulator: A virtual welding training system that enables students to learn and practice welding techniques in a safe, cost-effective, and environmentally friendly manner while improving welding skills and process understanding.

Arc Welding Machine (AC&DC Power Source)

4. CNC Shop

The CNC Shop serves as an advanced manufacturing and precision engineering facility within the Central Workshop. It provides students, researchers, and faculty members with hands-on exposure to computer numerical control (CNC) machining, modern manufacturing practices, and precision metrology techniques. The facility supports academic instruction, skill development, prototype fabrication, consultancy assignments, sponsored research projects, and the production of high-precision engineering components. Equipped with CNC machining systems and sophisticated inspection instruments, the shop enables accurate manufacturing, dimensional verification, and quality assurance in accordance with industrial standards.

Major Equipment

• CNC Lathe Machine (Jobber Junior – Horizontal): Used for computer-controlled turning operations to manufacture cylindrical and rotational components with high accuracy, repeatability, and productivity.
• Lathe Tool Dynamometer: Used for measuring cutting forces during turning operations, facilitating the analysis of machining performance, tool wear, cutting parameters, power consumption, and process optimization.
• Optical Measuring Machine (OMM): Used for high-precision, non-contact dimensional measurement and inspection of intricate geometries, profiles, and engineering components.
• Surface Roughness Tester: Used to evaluate surface finish characteristics and roughness parameters of machined components for quality control and process validation.
• Digital Vernier Caliper: Used for accurate measurement of external, internal, and depth dimensions of engineering components.
• Outside Micrometer: Used for precision measurement of diameters, thicknesses, and other critical dimensions requiring high accuracy.
• Surface Plate: A precision reference surface used for inspection, layout work, dimensional measurement, and quality assurance activities.
• Oil Mist Lubrication System: Used to supply a controlled mist of lubricant to the cutting zone during machining operations, reducing friction and heat generation, improving tool life and surface finish, and supporting efficient and sustainable machining practices.

CNC Lathe Machine (Jobber Junior – Horizontal)