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[droeber]

Greetings all. I am now an instructor with a local technical college, where I am putting in a new machine shop. so far I have 5 new knee mills, two with dro's 5 new small engine lathes, two cnc 4 axis mills 1 new cnc lathe with live tooling, 1 new cnc lathe with live tooling and a y axis, 1 new cmm, 1 new 3d printer( I hesitate to give brand names, don't know if that is allowed), and 20 pc workstations where I teach solid works, catia, and mastercam. I also teach shop math, GD&T, Metrology, and some applied physics. I have 40 years in aerospace, and thought I would retire only to find ,, not yet.
What I don't have are projects for different levels of training. And being new to the education system,,,,, I could use some help or suggestions on where to get projects with prints and such.
perhaps we could make something someone here may need done.

 

[gbritnell]

Wow! It sounds like it's going to be quite a shop. I would think that before you go out and find prints for projects that the level of the student's expertise needs to be taken into account. There are prints available for anything from the simplest steam engine design to full blown V-8 internal combustion engines. Projects also range from scratch built, which would suit CNC machining, to projects made from casting kits. There are some machine shop instructors that frequent this and other forums that might weigh in with their expertise.
Having learned almost all of the things you have listed and knowing the learning curve for each I think that the curriculum would have to be based on a step-by-step approach.
By the way, how about introducing yourself so the members here have an idea of where you came from and what you did.
gbritnell

 

[droeber]

Sorry, I didn't realize I had omitted that little introduction detail.

My name is Don, I live in Washington State, I Started in aerospace I guess because my father was in it, began working my way from the bottom in Texas, while I went to school. I seem to have a knack for the mechanical things and this became my career. Was doing some contracting around the country for awhile, then in 1980 I was offered a job in Washington State as a Manufacturing engineer/ programming specialist. 20 years there, then went in with a friend who decided to start his own company. I worked as the shop manager/qc manager. Then this year my friend decided to sell the company, I told him I was not interested in keeping it, so here I am. funny, since I retired I have had four job offers. Anybody capable of training people to be machinists, willing to relocate, let me know.

You are right about the level of expertise of the students, but I have been impressed how they take to the trade. Safety is always first and foremost, and those classes precede any shop involvement. And don't come to my class tired or sleepy, because you won't be doing any machine work.
This is the second year I have done this, the first was as a part time, and I was putting the shop together while I was teaching. But one younger vet who was suffering ptsd when he came, lost his family and was learning to pull it together, came back this year to thank me for the time I had given him, the job he had acquired, and the return of his family. He told me how my class gave him structure, and the skills in trouble shooting he applies to his life.
I cannot express how this makes me feel, to know I have a part in some ones success in life.

 

[kf2qd]

If you look in the downloads you will find a .60 2 stroke engine that I first developed when I was a "Special Lecturer in Engineering Technology" and a student at LeTourneau University. It was a project for a 1 semester Basic Machine Tool Practice lab. Most of it was done on a lathe, with the porting and rod done on a mill. It is probably not optimal, but mine would run a 10x6 prop at 10,000 RPM on 0% model airplane fuel.

Steel, cast iron and aluminum. A variety of processes and materials. And if it is done close top right it runs.

 

[vascon2196]

Howdy!

I am a Mechanical Engineering Technology instructor at a technical college in Rhode Island. I put together a great project for my 2nd semester students. It is a small air engine made mostly of aluminum and plastic. Students are required to make 6 pieces, assemble, and run the engine. They are also required to design (in Solid Works), a custom base for their engine made from anything they choose.

I have pictures, CAD drawings, build instructions, and more regarding this project. I have had 16 students complete 16 engines in less than 10 weeks, AND these students are learning basic machining in the same amount of time. So what I'm saying is, it is an easy engine and the students love it.

Here is a link to previous engines. Let me know...willing to share.

http://s761.photobucket.com/user/vascon2196/library/MCT 125 Winter 2012 Engine Projects