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Name of NGM Educator:

Chris Petersen, Technology Education and Project Lead the Way, Bacon Academy

Name of Host Company:

Hawk Integrated Plastics

Grade Level:

9 - 12th

Student Work Types:

1. Sketch a keychain
2. Dimensioned AutoCAD drawing
3. Plastic keychain that has been engraved with a CNC Mill

Task Abstract:

The students will create a product using contemporary manufacturing techniques.

Task Objectives:

Students will design and manufacture a keychain product.  They will design the keychain using AutoCAD and manufacture the keychain using a CNC milling machine

Esssential Understandings/Questions:

How are products created?

What is the role of CAD systems in teh design process?

How is quality control achieved?

Task Description:

The students will design a small keychain that will be milled on a CNC machine. The design must be compatible with the tooling available.  The design will first be sketched then drafted using AutoCAD. The design will be ported to MasterCAM to create toolpaths and machine code for the CNC machine. The product will be created on the CNC and then sold at a profit. 

Resources Required: The products can be any simple object.  The software can be any drafting program.  The product does not have to be created on a CNC machine, it can be created using any manufacturing technique.

Prior Learning Required:

There are no course reprequisites for this project.  The students need to be able to create a simple 2D drawing, to scale of an object.

The work was produced in a Technology Education pre-engineering course.  This is a first year drafting engineering course.  The course is a computer-based drafting and engineering course.  The manufacturing equipment is located in the same classroom as the computer lab.

Individual or Group Work: 

Both individual and group work will be involved in this project.

Educator Comments:   

This was an excellent project.  The students really enjoyed creating the key chains and the ensuing pizza party (the fruits of their labor).  the next time I do this project, I will emphasize tolerance dimensions more.  With a little creativity, the project can be modified for almost any Technology Education program. 

This was an excellent project. The students really enjoyed creating the key chains and the ensuing pizza party (the fruits of their labor). The next time I do this project, I will emphasize tolerance dimensions more. With a little creativity the project can be modified for almost any Technology Education program.