Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Copies of digital files may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
The North Carolina State University, College of Engineering, Precision Engineering Consortium Records contain annual and other reports, founding documents, slides, proposals, meeting minutes, correspondence, archived web content, and electronic files including a video of the Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infared Interferometer. Topics include the American Society for Precision Engineering, the Academic Policy Board, and correspondence with private companies like Proctor and Gamble. Materials range in date from 1983 to 2020.
The Precision Engineering Consortium was founded in 1982 with a $1.26 million grant from the Office of Naval Research. The Consortium was originally established entirely in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The Consortium was founded for research and to support growing a specialized workforce through doctoral students (who were designated fellows). Precision engineering supports the automation of previously labor-intensive processes in fields such as robotics, microelectronics, aerospace industries, defense industries, and national laboratories. Through scientific instrumentation, precision engineering allows for accurate measuring on a microinch (millionth of an inch) level. Housed on Centennial Campus, it includes faculty from Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering as well as Materials Science and Engineering. Areas of focus include metrology (sensors and measurement systems), innovative precision fabrication processes (machining, grinding, polishing), and real-time process control (https://www.pec.ncsu.edu/about/, accessed 09/23/2020).
The Precision Engineering Consortium was founded in 1982 with a $1.26 million grant from the Office of Naval Research. The Consortium was originally established entirely in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. The Consortium was founded for research and to support growing a specialized workforce through doctoral students (who were designated fellows). Precision engineering supports the automation of previously labor-intensive processes in fields such as robotics, microelectronics, aerospace industries, defense industries, and national laboratories. Through scientific instrumentation, precision engineering allows for accurate measuring on a microinch (millionth of an inch) level. Housed on Centennial Campus, it includes faculty from Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering as well as Materials Science and Engineering. Areas of focus include metrology (sensors and measurement systems), innovative precision fabrication processes (machining, grinding, polishing), and real-time process control (https://www.pec.ncsu.edu/about/, accessed 09/23/2020).
The Precision Engineering Consortium was one of the original units housed on Centennial Campus. The Consortium was the original occupant of Research I Building, which was the first building constructed and completed on Centennial Campus. Dr. Thomas Dow, Duncan Distinguished University Professor Emeritus in Mechanical Engineering, founded the Precision Engineering Consortium. He joined the faculty at NC State University in 1982, and was instrumental in developing the academic and research program in precision engineering. Dow was also one of the founders of the American Society of Precision Engineering, and served as executive director until 2018.
The North Carolina State University, College of Engineering, Precision Engineering Consortium Records contain annual and other reports, founding documents, slides, proposals, meeting minutes, correspondence, archived web content, and electronic files including a video of the Balloon Experimental Twin Telescope for Infared Interferometer. Topics include the American Society for Precision Engineering, the Academic Policy Board, and correspondence with private companies like Proctor and Gamble. Materials range in date from 1983 to 2020.
Collection is arranged in chronological order.
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.
[Identification of item], North Carolina State University, College of Engineering, Precision Engineering Consortium Records, UA 105.044, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
Transferred from North Carolina State University, Precision Engineering Consortium (Accession 2020.0011)
Digital materials processed by Clare Carlson, 2020 January; Finding aid written by: Cathy Dorin-Black, 2020 September; Processed by Cathy Dorin-Black, 2020 September; Reprocessed by Alanna Natanson and Carrie Wilson, 2021 August; Collection guide updated by Alanna Natanson and Carrie Wilson, 2021 August; Archived web content processed by Kate Phillips, 2025 October.
This includes a photocopy of the articles of incorporation for the American Society for Precision Engineering.
This includes the volume 14, issue 5 of The Journal: North Carolina State University from February 1983.
This includes clippings from "The Relation Between Pressure and Temperature in Rolling-Sliding EHD Contact" by J. W. Kannel and T. A. Dow, which is included in the references of the conference paper.
Thomas Dow, Director of the Precision Engineering Center, founded Angstrom Technology Corporation.
This includes clippings about precision engineering centers and memo from Professional Instruments Company.
These announcements are also accompanied by newspaper clippings detailing a profile of Katherine Stinson, the first woman engineering student to graduate from what was then called State College in 1941, and a study on the U.S. high-tech deficit.
This proposal is accompanied by notices of research grant awards.
These correspondences include the Precision Engineering Center bylaws and sample agreement.
This final report was created for a contract with the US Department of the Navy, Office of Naval Research
This includes several clippings reporting on the need for precision engineering and profiling Thomas Dow, correspondence about partnering with Kodak, correspondence about hiring new faculty for the Mechanical Engineering Department, and correspondence about presenting at the American Society for Precision Engineering annual conference.
This includes notes and correspondence regarding the planning and keying for a passenger elevator.
This includes the role of thermo elastic effects in the scuffing failure of rolling/sliding EHD contacts.
The Fall 1989 Statelog issue details the appointment of Dr. Larry K. Monteith, the Engineering dean at the time, as the interim head of NC State University following the resignation of Bruce R. Poulton.
This includes a prospectus for American Society for Precision Engineering and planning documents for its facilities and financial reporting.
This includes correspondence regarding the planning and distribution of the Precision Engineering journal.
This includes compact and floppy disks sent in the mail with the publications and correspondence.
This paper was presented at the 1996 National Science Foundation Design and Manufacturing Grantees Conference in January 3-5, 1996.
This includes specifications for interferometers.
This includes correspondence attachments of the 1986 copies of the Precision Engineering Center's charter, bylaws, and membership contract.
This folder contains objects written in English and one newsletter written in Japanese.
These reports are on the "fabrication of non-imaging optical surfaces."
These reports are on the development of "chip dynamics in diamond turning."
These reports are on the development of "chip dynamics in diamond turning."
The original folder containing these proposals indicated that they were adressed to the National Science Foundation.
This includes conference planning, Board of Directors minutes, and budgets.
This includes conference planning, Board of Directors minutes, and budgets.
This includes conference planning, Board of Directors minutes, and budgets.
This includes conference planning, Board of Directors minutes, and budgets.
This includes conference planning, Board of Directors minutes, and budgets.
This includes conference planning, Board of Directors minutes, and budgets.
This includes conference planning, Board of Directors minutes, and budgets.
Included is MP4 and PDF files.
Files are arranged as received.
Access will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
File count of digital media may exclude system files; hidden, deleted, or excluded files; and duplicate files.
Included are QuickTime (MOV) files.
Pending staff review and approval, access will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request. Access may be restricted.
PDF file
Digital copy exists. Access will be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
This is the official website of the Precision Engineering Consortium at NC State University. The NC State University Libraries has captured this website quarterly since 2020 using the Internet Archive's Archive-It web archiving service. The Internet Archive has also captured this website, beginning in 2005, which may be less complete and were performed at undetermined intervals.
Online access is provided through the Internet Archive’s Wayback Machine.
Collection is open for research; access requires at least 48 hours advance notice. Because of the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access will require additional advanced notice. Copies of digital files may be provided for use in the SCRC Reading Room upon request.
For more information contact us via mail, phone, or our web form.
Mailing address:
Special Collections Research Center
Box 7111
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Phone: (919) 515-2273
[Identification of item], North Carolina State University, College of Engineering, Precision Engineering Consortium Records, UA 105.044, Special Collections Research Center, North Carolina State University Libraries, Raleigh, NC
The NC State University Libraries generally claims only physical ownership of most Special Collections materials. These materials are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. Copyright law. Libraries staff are unable to advise on copyright and other legal matters; the user assumes full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Helpful resources for assessing copyright include Cornell Libraries' "Copyright Services: Copyright Term and the Public Domain" and copyright.gov. This collection may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information about identifiable living individuals, which may be protected under federal or state laws and regulations. Researchers are advised that there may be legal ramifications for disclosing this information.
The University Archives operates in accordance with the State Public Records Act, with unrestricted access to records not covered by state and federal statutes and regulations.