By Mark Gunderman, Communications Specialist, Chippewa Valley Technical College
Ryan Bone of Chippewa Falls and Cody Hemenway of Eau Claire drew crowds of onlookers last year when they flew their drone during the Manufacturing Show at Chippewa Valley Technical College.
Some people found the drone interesting, while others found it amazing that the two students with no prior experience were able to build the device themselves, less than two years after finishing high school. But it was no more amazing than the gumball machine that allowed visitors to select the color gumball they wanted, built by two students the previous year.
Those are just two of the modern marvels that will be on display at this year’s show, which will run from 3 to 7 p.m. next Thursday (Mar. 2) at the CVTC Manufacturing Education Center, 2320 Alpine Rd. in Eau Claire. The show is intended to introduce the public to the world of modern manufacturing, which has gone far beyond outdated images of low-skilled workers doing simple repetitive work.
Other student-built machines that will be on display at this year’s show include one that can play a guitar and another that makes golf putts. Being able to design, build, program, troubleshoot and maintain such automated devices are among the hot jobs in manufacturing today.
“We have a great diversity of manufacturing companies in the Chippewa Valley, many of them using cutting-edge technology,” said CVTC President Bruce Barker. “Attendees can learn more about these companies and how CVTC prepares workers for lucrative careers in manufacturing.”
Area schools will be heavily involved in the show through activities like the Junkyard Battle welding competition in which groups make welded sculptures based on a particular theme.
“We’re expanding the involvement of high school groups this year,” said Jeff Sullivan, CVTC dean of manufacturing. “More high school students will be able to tour area manufacturing industries before coming to the show.”
Home Page Photo: CVTC student Jake Berger of Durand adjusts a Haas CNC lathe that has been loaded with a five-axis trunnion at the Manufacturing Education Center. The lathe will be one of the pieces of manufacturing equipment on display at CVTC’s annual Manufacturing Show on Mar. 2. Berger is enrolled in CVTC’s Machine Tooling Technics program. (Photo courtesy of CVTC)
New this year is a unit with a moveable cradle, for the lathes in Machine Tooling Technics lab. The cradle holds the part to be cut by the lathe, which enables the machine to cut at various angles without having to take the part out, reset it and re-program.
Also new this year is a larger area for the Industrial Mechanics program, which has moved into the adjoining Applied Technology Center.
“Our mobile manufacturing lab, which visits high schools in the area to enhance their curriculum, will be open for tours,” Sullivan said. “This year, people will be able to do hands-on activities in the lab.”
Attendees will be able to try their hand at welding in the CVTC welding lab, try out a flight simulator, and see equipment like a water jet that uses streams of water to cut metal in precise detail. Also on display will be a three-dimensional printer that produces a 3-D plastic model of what is drawn up on computer-assisted design software.
People attending will be provided with “passports” to visit each area of the show. By having their passports stamped from the various areas they will be eligible for a drawing for an Apple watch. They will be able to talk with faculty and students from CVTC’s five manufacturing programs, as well as representatives from the school’s science and engineering departments.
Conversations with representatives of the many private manufacturing companies that will take part in the show should also give attendees a fresh perspective. There is no charge for attending.
Further information is available at cvtc.edu/mfgshow.