9th Grade Girl Learns to Machine Metal
Artist Helps Engineering Student Create Project
As freshmen, STAT students learn basic engineering skills like measuring, calibrating, keeping an engineers notebook, drawing isometric sketches and deminsioning. They also learn to use a powerful computer program called Inventor and create virtual models of thier projects but for one Stafford High School Freshman the computer rendering was not enough.
In her STAT program work this year Amber Bair has built parts within the computer and was excited when the opportunity arose for her to meet with local metal artist Chuck Williams and see how parts in her design would actually be machined. What was supposed to be a one day chance to see the production side of metal design became a class and cutting one piece of aluminum became an entire project to build an aluminum puzzle cube Bair designed earlier this school year.
One of the Project Lead the Way assignments for freshmen at SHS STAT academy was to design a puzzle cube. Bair designed five seperate parts that form a perfect cube when assembled properly. In the STAT program Bair built a pine prototype of her puzzle cube but as the year went on she discovered a few problems with the design.
Student Amber Bair said, "The problem with pine blocks is that they swell with humidity so the pieces don't always fit together properly." When Bair showed her puzzle cube to Williams he immediatly suggested the solution of making the cube out of aluminum.
"First I was going to make an aluminum version of her puzzle for Amber but she was so interested I decided to teach her to machine it herself", Williams said.
Bair is currently working on the last piece of her project with Williams teaching her to machine the parts properly. The end result will be an aluminum puzzle cube that Bair will have created from start to finish.
The work of Chuck Williams is exhibited at The Gallery at 915 at 915 Lafayette Blvd. More information about the STAT program is available from Stafford High School.
"Who are we", Project Lead the Way
"Stafford High School", Stafford High School School Fusion
April Bair, "The Gallery at 915 Chuck Williams", Gallery 915
Published by April Bair
April Bair writes a little bit of everything. She considers herself a project oriented person and sees life and work as a series of new projects. Living an ex-patriot life in Heidelberg Germany as a child... View profile
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- 9th grade engineering student designs puzzle cube
- Stafford High School STAT program is part of Project Lead the Way
- Metal artist Chuck Williams teaches student to machine aluminum
1 Comments
Post a CommentWhat a great use of skills learned in school. Chuck Williams should be commeneded for taking the time to mentor a young person. Amber should be commened for going the extra mile!