[Peter Matteson]

We usually have have 1 student who is the primary operator for each of our critical tools (CNC Mill, CNC Plasma Cutter, Lathes). This is a junior or senior that has spent 2 years as a minion/apprentice on that piece of equipment. That student is responsible for programming and running that piece of equipment when at meetings. We try to have 2 students learning and as back-ups in case the primary misses a meeting.

Additionally most of the mechanical team, about 20 students, can perform basic operations on the manual bridgeports. (i.e. drilling hole patterns and squaring tube) There are some students who are further trained to do the more complex manual milling jobs, usually 3-5 students.

All the mechanical kids learn to use the drill press, hand drills, riveting, basic sheetmetal bending, horizontal bandsaw, making chain

Generally we don't let student do the grinding operations because of safety concerns with the die grinders. Also broaching is usually done under supervision in our shop.

If it isn't clear from the above our students do most of the fabrication in our shop.