What machines are you using? (CNC, lathes, mills, 3-in-1 machines?)

[MrB]

Originally Posted by indieFan

Mr. B.,


I'm a huge fan of using the right resources at the right times. My suggestion, after quite a bit of thought, is to talk to the shop teachers in your area, such as the community colleges. They should be able to tell you how to optimize the resources you do have, as well as give you suggestions as to what tools you ought to add to your shop. If you develop a rapport with them, you might even be able to get them to come help out during build season.

indieFan

Thanks for the suggestion. We have some contacts as it is, but we try to keep this a student built and run setup. So in that I'm really just trying to make sure they have the best setup at our school to learn the most and produce the most during the season. We've sent out parts to sponsors in the past, but it is not nearly as gratifying for the team or individual students as when they say "I made that". and they bring their parents around to show them how the machines work.

My other battle is that the district liquidated its machine shop over a decade ago b/c it was "industrial arts". I want to make sure they know that to build these bots over the past six years we've been using the same equipment, but in a more high tech way. Our district is extremely supportive and impressed with what the team has accomplished, now I want to try and get some updated tools so we can get to the next level in house. I realize we are better off than some teams as it is, but you all know the FIRST addiction. Every year we want to take it a step further, so now, we'd just like to invest in our tools.

Thanks so far to everyone who has posted machine info, it has definitely set a baseline where other are at, and helped me look into some new equipment. I'll never get rid of those southbends, i just hope we can keep getting parts to keep them running :-) Thanks again.