Engineering, Engineering Technology, Interior Architecture, and Surveying

William Hemphill

Associate Professor, Engineering Technology; Program Coordinator - Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Product Development, & Industrial Technology; Lead Faculty - ETSU Guitar Building Project

hemphill@etsu.edu
423-439-7822
Wilson-Wallis Hall (WWH), Room 109C

Research Interests/Creative Activities/Skills/Expertise

• High-impact practices: Design/Prototype/Build
• STEM/STEAM Engagement
• CADD/CAM/CNC: Edge creation & toolpath optimization
• Rapid Product Development for Manufacturability
• Alternative acoustic guitar top and back bracing design and testing
• Electric guitar design & fabrication
• Tooling design (including 3D-printed, multi-part molds for casting liquid polymers)

Education

• MS, Engineering Technology, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, TN, 1992
• BS, Mechanical Engineering, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN, 1981

Patents

• U.S. Patent No. 9,011,786 awarded April 21, 2015. “Dry Heat Sterilizing Systems Using Inductive Heating,” Named Inventor
• U.S. Patent No. 8,434,292 awarded May 7, 2013. Ceramic-Encased Hot Surface Igniter System for Jet Engines, Named Inventor
• U.S. Patent No. 7,866,983 awarded Jan. 11, 2011. Surgical Simulation System, Named Inventor

Grants & Funded Research

Principal Investigator

• Co-PI: Hemphill, W & Zollinger, D. ‘Design of 3-D printed tooling for bird impact-resistant aircraft windshields.’ ($311,054). Sponsor: State of Tennessee, Department of Economic and Community Development (DECD) Transportation Network Growth Opportunity Program (TNGO) [July 2025 – June 2026]. Industry Partner: Bell Helicopter.
• Co-PI: Hemphill, W & Zollinger, D. ‘Comparative Analysis of Acoustic Guitar Bracing Designs Using Acoustic Resonance and Photoelastic Models’ (Grant No.: 2025-014 RFP; $14,580). Sponsor: ETSU Office of Vice Provost of Research [July 1, 2024 – September 30, 2025].
• PI: Hemphill, W. ‘Acoustic Guitar Building’ ($5,000.00). Sponsor: ETSU Instructional Development Committee [July 1, 2020 – June 30, 2021].
• PI: Hemphill, W. “2015 Basic Aerospace Education Workshop” (TAD Project No: 99-555-1253-04; $40,000). Sponsor: Tennessee Department of Transportation, Aeronautics Division (Summer 2015).

Funded Product Development Activities (w/ academic units/industry):

• ETSU Biological Sciences (multiple projects (4+) for specialized field and laboratory-based experimental equipment development and fabrication including $1.5k ETSU RDC Small Grants Program with Dr. Thomas Jones (2013).
• High-fidelity ObGyn Surgical Simulation System for ETSU QCoM ObGyn [with Dr. J. Paul Sims, Dr. Marty Olson, & Dr. Martin Eason (2003-2009) includes $20k Gaumard Scientific (2009), $5k ETSU IDC (2009) & $9k ETSU RDC (2008).
• Development of a Robotic Jockey for Miniature Horses [With Dr. J. Paul Sims]. $8K from Dixie Stampede, Pigeon Forge, TN (Spring 2007 to Fall 2007).
• Design & fabrication of systems for automated spherical soap film (bubbles) for NASA's Reduced Gravity Flight Program for Museums & Science Centers [with Drs J. Paul Sims & Gary Henson; experiment flight dates: August 10 & 11, 2006. (Summer 2006).

Teaching

Mr. Hemphill has taught various engineering technology and related courses during his 30+ year tenure at ETSU including:

• ENTC 1110 Engineering Drawing
• ENTC 2170 CADD
• ENTC 2200 Machine Tool Technology
• ENTC 3020 Society and Technology
• ENTC 3030 Technical Communication
• ENTC 3170 Manual CNC Programming
• ENTC 3600 Manufacturing Technologies
• ENTC 4060 Project Scheduling
• ENTC 4277 Instrumentation & Process Control
• ENTC 4357 CIM Applications
• ENTC 4957 Special Topics: Acoustic Guitar Building
• ENTC 5960 Thesis

Honors and Awards

• Inaugural Champion: ETSU Phil and Martha Bachman College of Arts & Sciences (CAS) School of Science, Engineering, & Math (SEM) Three Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition (2024)

○ [60-year drought]

• Mayor of Happytown, 2nd Grade, Woodmore Elementary, Chattanooga, TN (1964)

Publications & Presentations

Selected (Guitar Building-related) Presentations:

• Hemphill, W., & Zollinger, D., & Olesen, H. “Guitar-building within the Engineering Technology Curriculum.” 2026 ASEE Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration (CIEC), New Orleans, LA. DOI: 10.18260/1-2-1125-58273; Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/58273.
• “BBT Acoustic Guitar Kit Tooling & Alternate Top Bracing Development;” 2022 STEM Guitar Summit, on-line (2022Apr02).
• “Acoustic Institute E-Portfolio Process.” 2019 STEM Guitar Summit, Golden, CO (2019Nov03).
• “Crazy/Beautiful: Running an Electric Guitar Custom Shop within an ET Program.” 2019 ASEE Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration (CIEC), New Orleans, LA.
• “Documenting the Builds: Photographic Tips and Techniques.” 2018 STEM Guitar Summit, Birmingham, AL (2018Nov04).
• “4-Knob Mod” with J. Bernard (ETSU). 2018 STEM Guitar Summit, Birmingham, AL (2018Nov04).
• “Incorporating Tool Design into a Guitar Building Program.” 2018 STEM Guitar Summit, Birmingham, AL (2018Nov04).
• “A Low-Cost, Twisted Pair Winder Rig” with T. J. Wilhelm (Kankakee CC). 2018 STEM Guitar Summit, Birmingham, AL (2018Nov05).
• “Oh, $#!&: Error Recovery & Prevention.” 2017 STEM Guitar Summit, Hampton, VA (2017Nov05).
• “Two Simple, Affordable Mods for Making a ‘Tone Monster’” with T. J. Wilhelm (KCC). 2017 STEM Guitar Summit, Hampton, VA (2017Nov05).
• “Earbuds, Humbuckers & Tone, Oh My!” with T. J. Wilhelm (KCC). 2017 STEM Guitar Summit, Hampton, VA (2017Nov06).
• “CAD/CNC Best Practices—Electronics Pocket.” 2017 STEM Guitar Summit, Hampton, VA (2017Nov06).
• “Self-Organizing Named Layers for CADD/CAM/CNC Design, Prototyping, & Fabrication.” 2016 STEM Guitar Summit, Tulsa, OK (2016Nov06).

Professional Development—Guitar-related:

Title	Information
Workshops & Institutes:	• STEM Guitar—Acoustic Guitar Building Workshop (Host); Johnson City, TN June 2021. • STEM Guitar—Acoustic Guitar Building Institute; Perkasie, PA; Aug. 12-16, 2019. • STEM Guitar—Electric Guitar Building Institute; Tampa, FL; Aug. 4-8, 2014. • PLM Workshop (Electric Guitar Build); Dayton, OH; Mar. 22-25, 2010.
		Conferences & Summits:	• STEM Guitar Summit (On-line) April 2022. (Presenter). • 2019 Guitar Summit—M-STEM Conference; Golden, CO; Nov. 5-8, 2018. (Presenter). • 2018 Guitar Summit—M-STEM Conference; Birmingham, AL; Nov. 5-8, 2018. (Presenter). • ASEE Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration (CIEC). New Orleans, LA; Feb. 2018. • 2018 High Impact Instructional Practices Conference, Johnson City, TN; Jan. 8, 2018. (Presenter). • 2017 Guitar Summit—M-STEM Conference; Hampton, VA; Nov. 4-7, 2017. (Presenter). • ASEE Conference for Industry and Education Collaboration (CIEC). San Antonio, TX; Feb. 2017. (Presenter). • 2016 Guitar Summit—M-STEM Conference; Tulsa, OK; Nov. 6-8, 2016. (Presenter & Roundtable).