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Posted by MaryEllen, Other on team #180, S.P.A.M., from South Fork and Martin County High Schools and UTC/Pratt & Whitney, FL.

Posted on 5/16/99 1:06 PM MST


In Reply to: Location, location, location... posted by Daniel on 5/16/99 12:11 PM MST:



: Well, I've been working some more on the Cal Robotics project. Here’s what I found out:

: The Cal student shop is too busy with other projects. I seriously doubt it would be adequate for our intents.

: So here's my plan...

: I have been trying to find a sponsor company with a machine shop and some extra space, as it is my understanding that many teams operate out of a sponsor's shop. Is this true, or are there too many liabilities involved? If true, do the students actually get to do the machining? This is one thing I feel very strongly about. I need to have the students build the thing, not the engineers.

: Let me know! Any info would help…

:
: Thanks in advance,
: -Daniel

We worked out of a volunteer's shop but also had a fantastic machinist,
Larry Nolan, who had access to CNC equipment and cut a lot of very
complex parts. The students did do machining, design work and assembly, but when it
came to fabrication of some components, like custom-cut Lexan gears, go
with a pro!
If you limit the students' design options to the machining skills of the
students, you're putting an unneccessary limit on creativity. And real-world
engineers rarely work the machine/production shop. The talent is in being able to
communicate your ideas accurately through the blueprints. Don't confuse
engineering with shop class - you'll lose some of the girls joining your
team who may have fantastic ideas but little mechanical experience.
A few companies are willing to train the students and allow them to
make parts, but I'm afraid that most see it as an insurance risk and would
prefer to cut parts themselves. Go with it! If you can get a machinist or two
to volunteer, you are truly blessed!

MaryEllen