Automated Manufacturing & Machining Articles

A charity drive to raise money for the Prevent Cancer Foundation recently benefited from the artistry and technical skill of a Pennsylvania College of Technology student who fabricated two pieces of metal art that were awarded as prizes for the event.

When distributors for the largest machine tool builder in the United States gathered recently for a training conference at Pennsylvania College of Technology, the issue on their minds was the challenge of finding qualified employees to help revitalize U.S. manufacturing.

For the third time in three years, Pennsylvania College of Technology will be represented in international archery competition. Zachary Plannick, 22, of Coraopolis, and Glen Thomas, 21, of Mercer, will compete Aug. 14-18 at the 26th World University Summer Games. The biennial event runs from Aug. 12-23 and is being held in Shenzhen, China.

"Made in Central PA," a manufacturers' showcase of the products and career opportunities available in Penn College's nine-county back yard, was held Thursday on main campus. About a dozen people including teachers and counselors from area high schools, as well as representatives of regional career and technology centers attended.

A group of Pennsylvania College of Technology students contributed to The Pennsylvania State University Advanced Vehicle Team's EcoCar by producing custom brake rotors for the vehicle. The team, made up of Penn State students, is producing a hybrid vehicle for EcoCAR: The NeXt Challenge.

Pennsylvania College of Technology hosted the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge North Central Pennsylvania Regional Qualifier, a robotics competition for students in grades 7-12, on its campus Feb. 5.

Groups of high schoolers from six states convened in Penn College's College Avenue Labs on Feb. 5 for the FIRST (For Inspiration and Recognition of Science and Technology) Tech Challenge North Central Pennsylvania Regional Qualifier, which tested the students' engineering know-how in a robot-against-robot competition stadium.

Another appreciable overnight snowfall meant another morning workout for Penn College's community-minded student body. As part of "Operation Snowflake," campus organizations share shoveling duty at registered locations if a storm hits on their watch. On Wednesday morning, the cleanup assignment fell to members of the Society of Manufacturing Engineers. Photos provided by Kevin T. Werkheiser, SME

Synthes, a global medical-device company that has supported Pennsylvania College of Technology by donating instructional equipment and hiring numerous graduates of its automated manufacturing and machining program, is the 2010 recipient of the college's Mentorship Award.

Penn College was the site recently of a Technology Leadership Workshop, presented free to educators through Siemens Industry Inc.'s Siemens Cooperates With Education program. The event attracted 15 educators from such local institutions as Bucknell University and Williamsport Area School District, as well as from colleges and universities in North Dakota, Michigan and Ohio.