Students as fabricators

[Kevin Leonard]

Most of the parts on 20's robots are either directly fabricated by students, or students are at the very least involved.
During the season, our fabrication mentors work with and teach the students. To make the parts from our detailed CAD drawings. We've been trying to formally train students, but often can't find the student interest outside build season for all but a core group of students.
I personally know how to use most of the machines in our shop on the level that we use them at. I've even received a bit of welding training from our 22-year veteran FRC mentor.
Welding is usually done by that mentor, but in 2011, it was done by a well-trained student.
Very rarely do we get fabrication done out of our own facilities, but when we do (ex. Our water jet-cut plates on our shooter this year from RPI) we have students present during the process.
It's something we pride in on Team 20.