GLASSBLOWING
FACILITY
The Glassblowing Facility provides highly specialized support for teaching and research operations within the
department and university. The two full time professionals design, construct and maintain sophisticated glass
apparatus and glass high vacuum systems for use by university research personnel. The skilled craftsmen are
particularly adept at developing prototype glass apparatus using state of the art materials and techniques. The glass
working machinery and equipment available in the facility allows seals of up to 225mm diameter in borosilicate glass
and 150mm diameter quartz glass seals. Upgraded glass annealing capabilities allow annealing glassware up to 2.2-
meter lengths. For testing the frequent vacuum system and related projects, helium leak detection instrumentation is
available.

Teaching and training is a vital aspect of operations. A credit course (CHM 593/Applied Project - Glassblowing) is
offered each year to train graduate students in basic glassblowing operations. Frequent seminars and workshops are
conducted for graduate students to help improve their skills in glassblowing and vacuum techniques. The
Glassblowing Facility maintains the only active Scientific Glassblower Apprentice Training Program in the United
States. Two apprentices have been successfully trained in the last 9 years. The facility personnel actively participate
in community outreach programs initiated by the university.

The Glassblowing Facility is located in
room PSD-239 in the Bateman Physical
Science Building. Our hours of operation
are from 7:00am to 4:00pm daily.
LAKE MENDOTA WEB CAM
UNIV. OF WISCONSIN, MADISON
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