ME 548Numerical Control of Machine Tools 1
- Units
- 0.50
- Faculty
- Engineering
- Subject
- Mechanical Engineering
When it runs
- F24
- W25
- S25
- F25
- W26
- S26
- F26
- W27
- S27
Ran in 5 of the last 7 terms. Winter 2027: not on the schedule. Spring 2027: schedule not out yet.
Operation fundamentals of NC machine tools. NC part programming: manual and CAD/CAM methods. Mechanics of metal cutting: examples of turning, milling, and drilling. Tool wear and breakage. Optimum cutting conditions. Dimensional and form errors due to static deformations. Dynamics of machining. Laboratory work provides hands-on experience in tool path generation, machining, and measurements of cutting forces and vibration.
Prerequisites
- Complete all of the following
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Must have completed at least 1 of the following:
- Students must be in level 4A or higher
- Enrolled in H-Mechanical Engineering, or H-Mechatronics Engineering
Antirequisites
None listed.
Leads to
No course lists it as a requisite.
Fall 2026 sections
| Section | Class | Enrolled | Meets |
|---|---|---|---|
| LEC 001 | 4967 | 46 / 70 | MW 10:00–11:20 |
| LAB 101 | 4968 | 46 / 70 | F 16:30–19:20 |
Reviewed on UW Flow
80% liked it75% easy77% useful
From 15 ratings and 8 comments on UW Flow. The most helpful comments, quoted as written, without names. Read them all on UW Flow.
FALL2020 ONLINE TERM
Interest dive into machining controls. First half of the course is mostly CNC design (theres a project where you design a shield engraving using CAD and use various optimization softwares) whereas the second half is dedicated to specific machining processes and the associated controls. The vibrations section of the course can get complicated if you didn't have a strong controls background (I took ME360 in the 1st COVID term so I ended up having a harder time with ME548).Dec 2020 · liked it · 1 found this helpfulOn UW FlowRemove this
Good course, 100% better in the first half. Second half can get a bit dry but I started to enjoy the vibration analysis more as it went on. The cutting mechanics probably could be condensed as there is a fair bit of filler info that could be cut.
Dec 2024 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Beginning of the course is great with the project being pretty cool, course falls off after that, lots of theory and projects not being too interesting
Sep 2023 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
The start of the course was great, you learn MasterCAM, CMM and some machining simulation softwares. Then it gets very controls heavy and theoretical. More of how to make your own CNC than it is how to use a CNC. By the end of it, it’s difficult to pay attention because it is so theoretical. Not too hard but just not as engaging
Nov 2022 · didn’t like itOn UW FlowRemove this
Kaan Erkorkmaaz and his teaching team are amazing. They put a ton of effort into making this course enjoyable and interesting. I thoroughly enjoyed the lectures and the projects were fun.
Jan 2022 · liked itOn UW FlowRemove this
Discussed on r/uwaterloo
15 posts and comments in 14 threads mention ME 548, December 2013 to December 2024. Quoted word for word, newest first; each reply sits under the post and the comment that started its branch. Search r/uwaterloo for newer posts.
Spring 2021
Mechanical engineering undergrad retrospective 201 points, 42 comments
u/doAbr00talroll: “… • ME548: Erkorkmaz is one of my favourite profs and this is my favourite course of 4A. …”
Winter 2021
For the class of 2021, how are you feeling about graduating this year? 17 points, 8 comments
“Really wish there was an option for multiple selection, but just choose which option best resonates with you. View Poll”
u/doAbr00talroll: “Honestly it's a little depressing having spent my entire 4th year in front of my computer and not being able to do the cool labs/projects I had always heard about from 1a to 3b. …”
u/doAbr00talroll: “… Poorly defined projects and we were forced to use an awful conferencing platform (bongo) ME 548 gave us an opportunity to actually design an engraving and shield using MasterCAM which they were able to machine for us. …”
What is your favourite/most interesting course? 13 points, 32 comments
u/broadie97: “ME548 - Numerical Control of Machine Tools Prof Erkorkmaz is an absolute GEM, course is super interesting if you’re into that stuff too”
Fall 2020
Good prof appreciation thread 61 points, 89 comments
“This term sucks a lot and a lot of people are having some shitty experiences, especially with certain profs/TAs/instructors. But there’s a lot of profs who are not that shitty. …”
u/broadie97: “Kaan Erkorkmaz, ME548. Really good lectures that are live and recorded. Informative lecture notes. All of his deadlines are reasonable for projects and him and the TA have been great at communicating changes to the course. …”
Spring 2020
Advice for Technical Elective MEGA-Thread 1 point, 1 comment
“Hey everyone. I am currently a 3A student and I was wondering what technical electives you senior students have taken and why. …”
u/veganwaterboy: “… 30sih page report over the whole semester takes up a third of the marks ME548, McCloskey: My favourite course this semester. The lecture quality is great and the projects/midterm haven't been too difficult so far. …”
Spring 2018
MTE 322 vs ME 322 AND Fav Mech courses 3 points, 4 comments
“I am a 4th year SYDE student and I want to land a Product/mechanical design full-time position. I am trying to use the remainder of my technical electives to build more mechanical design …”
u/eagle23_7: “4th year who has worked 5 mechanical design coops. The best way to learn design would be through coop placements by far. It’s a lot more real world design of metal and plastic injection parts. …”
u/anon_student1: “… I am considering courses like ME 548 (CNC), ME 561 (hydraulics/pneumatics0), ME 436 (welding - I am already taking ME 435 - metallurgy). …”
How much programming is involved in mechanical engineering? 2 points, 1 comment
u/DoubIeIift: “… From this page: http://www.ucalendar.uwaterloo.ca/1819/COURSE/course-ME.html I see that the classes with programming are ME 101 LAB, ME262 LAB, ME 547 LAB, and ME 548 LAB, but overall the majority of classes are your standard engineering/physics/calculus courses for mechanical …”
Fall 2017
Any way to disable UWCourseLinker from posting? 16 points, 26 comments
“posting a reply to my comment I find the bot annoying.”
u/Jackhofmann: “PSYCH 483 PSYCH 484 PSYCH 485 PSYCH 486 PSYCH 490R PSYCH 499A PSYCH 499B PSYCH 499C PSYCH 621 PSYCH 630 PSYCH 677A PSYCH 704A PSYCH 704B PSYCH 707 PSYCH 710 PSYCH 714 PSYCH 717 PSYCH 720A PSYCH 721A …”
u/Jackhofmann: “… ME 353 ME 360 ME 362 ME 380 ME 400A ME 401 ME 423 ME 435 ME 436 ME 456 ME 459 ME 481 ME 482 ME 548 ME 559 ME 561 ME 566 ME 599 ME 620 ME 627 ME 632 ME 651 ME 659 ME 662 ME 673 ME 680 ME 682 ME 720 ME 738 ME 753 ME 760 ME 765 ME 770 ME 780 MEDVL 115 MEDVL 250R MNS 10 MNS 101 MNS …”
Spring 2017
Trying to learn Blender. Pardon my mediocre UV unwrapping and stuff 145 points, 14 comments
u/K-ralz: “Hey that's pretty cool. I've been meaning to get better at it as well. How do you find it as a general modelling tool? …”
u/annihilatron: “now export this to mastercam, put together an end-milling path, and you'll have passed ME548 (iirc). assume you choose the right feed/speed/etc and don't break the endmill.”
Fall 2016
What are your feelings on ME 547 and ME 548? Which did you prefer and why? 0 points, 2 comments
u/supersymmetry: “I'm currently enrolled in ME 547 but I want to get some more detailed information on these courses from people that have taken either ME 547 or ME 548. …”
u/atzerok: “… ME 548 is a machining course. The topics are related but the course content is very different. If you liked your second year dynamics course, then go for ME547. Alternatively, you can look at SYDE553 which I highly recommend. …”
Fall 2015
Best Prof You Ever Had? 27 points, 134 comments
“Ian VanderBurgh. Hands down.”
u/Nakji: “Kaan Erkorkmez, ME548. Honourable mention to Carolyn Hansson for being the only professor I had who managed to make a materials course interesting.”
Spring 2015
Any mech eng doing/done the tron option? 1 point, 6 comments
“I just wanna know if there are any mech eng that are doing/done the tron option. I wanna know what courses you took to complete the option (ECE or MTE courses?) and if doing the option itself was …”
u/annihilatron: “https://uwaterloo.ca/mechanical-mechatronics-engineering/future-undergraduate-students/mechanical-engineering/specializations-and-options bottom of the page; link to …”
u/annihilatron: “… - ME 548 is a bird course involving getting MASTERCAM to mill parts on a CNC. Some math involved in calculating tool speeds and feeds, some materials science, etc, but basically easy. …”
Check it elsewhere for Fall 2026
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