Bill Hemphill | Engineering, Engineering Technology, Interior Architecture, and Surveying

Engineering, Engineering Technology, Interior Architecture, and Surveying

 

Photo of Bill Hemphill Associate Professor, Engineering Technology Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Product Development, & Industrial Technology Lead Faculty: ETSU Guitar Building Project

Bill Hemphill

Associate Professor, Engineering Technology Manufacturing Engineering Technology, Product Development, & Industrial Technology Lead Faculty: ETSU Guitar Building Project

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 (Last ten years)
  • Co-PI: Hemphill. W & Zollinger, D. ‘Comparative Analysis of Acoustic Guitar Bracing Designs Using Acoustic Resonance and Photoelastic Models’ (Grant #: 2025-014 RFP; $14,580). Sponsor: ETSU Office of Vice Provost of Research [2024July01 to 2025Sept30].
  • 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
  • Reigning Champion: ETSU 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:

•  “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 (ESTU). 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: 

  • 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).