Cazenovia students will be able to utilize a Coordinate Measurement Machine in the near future. This device is used for measuring the physical geometrical characteristics of an object and is manually controlled. It is a 7 degree of freedom arm with a laser end effector that you could use to scan objects. You can then scan an object, bring it into 3D modelling, and modify it or 3D print it. A brief overview of this CMM can be downloaded HERE.

They are used in industry to reverse engineer parts, produce highly accurate 3D models, and for inspection of manufactured items.  It is widely used in many industries including:

• Aerospace: Alignment, Tooling & Mold Certification, Part Inspection
• Automotive: Tool Building & Certification, Alignment, Part Inspection
• Metal Fabrication: OMI, First article inspection, Periodic Part Inspection
• Molding/Tool & Die: Mold and Die Inspection, Prototype Part Scanning

Students in the Engineering & Technology programs will be able to utilize this piece of equipment in many different ways including scanning to a 3D print, and parts inspection in Computer Integrated Manufacturing class. Students in the Intro to Engineering Design class would be able to use it to measure parts in the reverse engineering unit of the course. It may even be an interesting tool for art students as well!

A parent of a former student has donated manufacturing equipment and PCD Tools, which he uses in all aspects of the product development in his company, MCM Design, Inc.  This is a local company doing global design work right here in Cazenovia. One of the goals of this small local company is to develop products to be manufactured cost effectively in the U.S.A.  What better way to do it than pass down technology to the people who will be using it in the future: our high school engineering students! We will be highlighting this company and the work they have done at a later date.

Here’s a cool idea for a project with it from Jay Leno: (This is the company that manufactures the arm that we are getting as well!)

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