Seth Rauch

Ever since I was a little kid, the idea of creating things has been fascinating to me. As a kid with a pile of Legos, constructing something from that pile of bricks was always something I greatly enjoyed. Now, instead of creating with only my hands, I get to use top-of-the-line equipment to create whatever I can imagine. With the constant improvement of the manufacturing industry’s equipment and techniques, there is always something new and exciting on the horizon that I hope to get the chance to use some day.

My favorite class to date has been the Advanced Multi-Axis Machining class. The incredible complexity in the operations of the machines has resulted in a much greater challenge to overcome than I have previously encountered, and it has allowed me to grow not only as a machinist but has changed the way I approach and solve problems.

Luke Davies. He always pushes students to try something new or approach a problem from a different angle. His methods of teaching have resulted in learning more from my own experiences in the lab as opposed to a longer lecture period.

The Gene Haas Center for Innovative Manufacturing has been a great tool for learning at Penn College. The diversity of machines available to students has allowed me to get a wide range of experience with different controller styles, machine sizes and speeds, and tooling types. I have also gained a better understanding of how to program parts to work within the limits of what’s available at the time, and how to overcome challenges presented by limitations within machines themselves. However, this would not be possible if it weren’t for the constant investments into our major. 

Their donation has been crucial for the constant improvement within the program. New floors, better lights, and new machine tools were purchased. These upgrades have been a large step forward in allowing students to bring their ideas to fruition. It has also been a large step forward in my professional development, as I have the confidence to go to employers with the skills and knowledge to make a difference in any facility because of what I have learned at Penn College.

I had the opportunity to work with a team in preparation for the Haas Technical Educators Conference, and we were tasked with the creation of a part showcasing the capabilities of the Haas CNC machines while remaining simple enough to illustrate teaching points for educators and students alike. We decided to create a cellphone amplifier, where you can set your phone vertically boost the sound without the use of speakers or needing earbuds. I was charged with the creation of the solid model used for the toolpaths, along with the technical illustrations. Making use of the rapid prototyping lab, we were able to create some prototypes using 3D printers. We were able to highlight flaws in the design such as the assembly being top heavy, resulting in the amplifier tipping over. After making the needed revisions, we created a final set of drawings and were able to move on towards manufacturing the part. 

Through my responsibilities within the project, I learned about the importance of iterative design processes within the manufacturing process. It served as valuable experience in seeing how small changes to a part result in large differences in the functionality of the final product. I also gained insight into how essential strong communication is when working with a team on a project, especially when troubleshooting issues and brainstorming solutions. Overall, it was a rewarding experience that combines creative thinking and problem solving with technical skill, resulting in a finished, high-quality product.

I have worked as a part-time draftsman since I was a junior in high school. This position taught me a lot of what I know today in the drafting world. After receiving a job from a client, I would begin creating a client profile based on their sketch using SolidWorks. After receiving approval to proceed with the job, I would create technical illustrations for manufacturing. I would then create a program for all parts to be cut on the CNC table and push the job out to the shop to be cut. Frequently, multiple projects were progressing through different stages simultaneously, meaning that I was balancing multiple jobs at a time. This experience taught me how to efficiently create parts in SolidWorks, a skill that I still make great use of today. I also learned a great deal about how to manage my time well to prevent anything from slipping through the cracks. The lessons I learned proved invaluable as they continue to support me in my time at Penn College.

Penn College hosts a career fair every semester, bringing in employers looking to hire the best of the best. Every semester, I meet new people in the manufacturing sphere, talk to more companies, and form connections to industry leading professionals. These connections have led me to more job opportunities and interviews than I could have possibly imagined. I am forever grateful to Penn College for their never-ending work in trying to get us students out there for the world to see.

I have always enjoyed making things run better and faster, and I would be given the opportunity to do that as a manufacturing engineer. Penn College's degree in manufacturing engineering is a no-brainer for me to achieve my goals. I have learned everything from the ground up, giving me a strong foundation as I continue my education. Starting with the basics of manual machining, then progressing to more automated systems, has given me a strong base of knowledge that has allowed me to understand the fundamentals in detail. I can then apply those same concepts to advanced practices, further honing my skills and techniques. The amount of skills taught at Penn College is staggering, making me even more equipped for the career of my dreams.