Brian Ipema
IDF Core Director
Brian Ipema has been an integral part of ASU since 2015, advancing to the role of Operations Director for the Instrument Design and Fabrication Core Facility in 2017. He oversees the Electronics and Machine Shop facilities and contributes to various ASU committees, addressing Environmental Health and Safety and enhancing Makerspaces such as the ASU Chandler Innovation Center. His efforts focus on raising awareness and expanding project capabilities for facility users.
With a career spanning over three decades in engineering, starting in 1987, Brian has specialized in material analysis, design and manufacturing. He has owned and operated two businesses: an R&D machine shop and an automotive performance shop, tackling diverse projects from simple to highly complex using a wide array of equipment, materials and tools.
Brian's extensive R&D experience includes working on future automotive designs, powertrain systems, airbag safety systems and safety systems for police and fire equipment. His notable contributions to the Department of Defense include projects for the F-22, F-35, Apache and Chinook helicopters and the V-22 Osprey. In the medical field, he has collaborated with Medtronic on pacemaker and back stimulator projects. His expertise extends to the semiconductor industry, having worked with Intel, Seagate and Western Digital on hard drive components and silicon wafer handling systems.
Brian holds a SolidWorks certification and several other certifications in automotive, manufacturing and HVAC. He also obtained his refrigerant license in 1992.
James Makar
Machine Shop Manager
James Makar joined ASU in 2004, bringing with him a wealth of experience from the semiconductor, aerospace, and robotics industries. As the Machine Shop Manager for the Instrument Design and Fabrication Core Facility, he oversees the management and operations of the shop.
Jim finds great reward in collaborating with various researchers and faculty members, transforming innovative concepts, sometimes sketched on a napkin, into fully realized projects. Under his leadership, the IDF Core boasts a talented team of designers and machinists with many years of combined experience. The team is dedicated to assisting as many people as possible, always striving to find solutions or directing individuals to the right resources when needed.
Gerald Lacy
Senior Instrument Maker and Designer
Gerald "Jerry" Lacy has been with ASU since 2016, serving as a Senior Instrument Maker and Designer for the IDF Core's Machine Shop. In his role, he specializes in machining, mechanical design and assembly. Jerry particularly enjoys projects that support biology research, such as those related to traumatic brain injury and virus characterization. He finds it exciting to see the work on the Compact X-ray Free Electron Laser (CXFEL) come to fruition, and he also appreciates the fascinating NASA projects he has contributed to. With the continuous addition and expansion of capabilities within the IDF Core, Jerry eagerly embraces new challenges.
In addition to his role at ASU, Jerry has been an adjunct instructor for manufacturing at Mesa Community College for 26 years. He holds certifications in SolidWorks and has extensive experience using and teaching various computer-aided manufacturing software programs. Jerry's diverse industry background includes automation, automotive, aerospace and heavy equipment. Notably, in 2012, he worked for a furniture company that built casework for Starbucks, and he later saw those projects again at the Noble Library and Memorial Union at ASU. Jerry enjoys the entire manufacturing process, from concept to completion.
Tan Nguyen
Senior Machinist
Tan Nguyen joined ASU in 2022 as a Senior Machinist for the Instrument Design and Fabrication Core Facility, bringing with him valuable experience from the aerospace, defense, and semiconductor industries. In his role, Tan finds working on research projects both challenging and a great learning experience. He is passionate about sketching solid model parts, programming and setting up CNC machines to manufacture the necessary components for completing research projects.
Christopher Bello
Machinist
Christopher "Chris" Bello has been a part of the Instrument Design and Fabrication (IDF) Core since July 2023 and is thrilled to contribute to the Knowledge Enterprise at ASU. His extensive experience as a machinist comes from working at one of Arizona's largest "mom and pop" job shops, which specializes in manufacturing parts for the flight safety, aerospace and semiconductor industries. At this shop, Chris completed a 6400-hour apprenticeship and was awarded the title of Journeyman Machinist by the NTMA and the Arizona Department of Labor. He also earned an Associate of Applied Science (AAS) degree in Manufacturing Technology from Mesa Community College (MCC).
Chris particularly enjoys collaborating with researchers to develop designs and drawings in CAD, transforming ideas into tangible objects. He is dedicated to continuously learning and honing his skills, and he is eager to find more ways to make meaningful contributions to the research at ASU.
Mark White
Instrument Maker
Mark White began his tenure as a Machinist and Instrument Maker at ASU in September 2004. With a career in machining spanning almost 45 years, Mark started his journey right out of high school. His diverse experience includes working in the semiconductor, aerospace, tool and die, fabrication and farm and mining equipment repair industries.
Mark has remained dedicated to this trade because he finds designing and creating precision parts and assemblies from a wide variety of materials to be a highly rewarding profession. The challenges at ASU align perfectly with his passion for tackling diverse and complex tasks related to part functionality and material selection.
Working at ASU is particularly fulfilling for Mark, as he gets the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from faculty members across various fields and disciplines, enhancing his understanding of the world.
Brian Smith
Instrument Maker
Brian Smith has been working in manufacturing as a machinist for 25 years, with most of his experience in the aerospace industry. Since 2016, he has been an Instrument Maker at the ASU Instrument Design and Fabrication (IDF) Core.
Brian enjoys CAD modeling and collaborating with customers on their project designs. Working at the ASU IDF Core gives him the opportunity to be involved in numerous interesting projects. He finds it gratifying to see customers' finished projects and to contribute to their research goals.
Brian looks forward to contributing to complex projects and working with customers to find simple solutions to achieve their manufacturing goals.