How do you best prepare students for the demands of the shop floor? By giving them hands-on experience, according to CNC (computer numerical control) machine-tool manufacturer Haas Automation Inc. The California-based company is imparting both practical know-how and high-tech manufacturing knowledge through its Haas Technical Education Centers.

These education centers have partnered with local Haas Factory Outlets, technical career centers, and schools, including technical, community and four-year colleges, to bring advanced training to would-be machinists. For example, manufacturing technology students at Henry Ford Community College and Lansing Community College (both in Michigan) get to work on the newest Haas CNC machine tools. They get involved in the manufacturing process--from concept to tooling stage. For instance, students try their hand at estimating job costs, designing parts in CAD/CAM (computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing) software, writing code, setting up and operating CNC machine tools, and carrying out machine maintenance schedules. Additionally, they learn the ins and out of ISO quality standards and in-process monitoring probes.

At Henry Ford Community College's center, teachers receive some training as well. High school and community college instructors can attend seminars covering teaching techniques and cutting edge machine tool technologies, while offering required continuing-education credits. Meanwhile at Lansing Community College's center, customers that buy Haas machines can receive ongoing training. Additionally, Lansing's education center will soon be installing sophisticated emulation software to enable dynamic "on demand" or "just-in-time" training. The center also intends to add a DNC (direct numerical control) system that will allow students to directly enter the CAD/CAM files they have created into the shop's machine tools.

According to Kenneth Wright, CNC instructor at Henry Ford Community College, the Haas Technical Education Center addresses the current issues and trends in the industry. For example, the curriculum takes students' increasing mobility into account. Because the curriculum is divided into modules, students can enroll and leave at any point. What's more, the program answers the marketplace's demands for more varied skill sets, offering hands-on training in various disciplines. Students get to use four Haas machines to gain much needed experience.

Meanwhile, at Lansing Community College, the approach to manufacturing education is also pragmatic, reflecting real-world issues. "Rather than using a programmer in an ivory tower, most shops are doing programming on the shop floor," Fritz Smydra, Lansing CNC instructor, tells American Machinist. "Students learn to copy and paste code right on the controllers, on-the-fly." His students get to use eight Haas machine tools, gaining experience in either Unigraphics or MasterCAM. They learn how to design parts directly in the software and by placing blueprint specifications into it. Smydra also shows them time-saving techniques, including downloading CAD drawings from the Internet.

Aside from teaching would-be machinists, Lansing's education center also runs demonstrations and carries out short part runs for Haas' current and potential customers. This way, customers can spot problems before they work on the parts in their own shops.

With this approach to manufacturing education, Haas is doing its part to immerse future machinists in the shop floor environment. Its well-rounded approach is certainly giving students a head start.

Source:

Building Tomorrow's Machinists
Leslie Gordon
American Machinist, December 1, 2004
www.americanmachinist.com/full_story.php?WID=12707