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Technology Showcased in Augusta By Beth Fisher, Lewiston Regional Technical Center
A celebration of career and technical education in Augusta was held on February 11. Students and teachers from around the state had the opportunity to showcase their programs. The result was a dynamic and impressive presentation of what Maine Vocational and Technical Centers are doing. Lewiston sent representatives from the Computer Assisted Engineering Program and Culinary Arts. The computer assisted engineering students demonstrated a small automated
manufacturing cell. A robot, a milling machine and a conveyor belt were
programmed to work together to produce a product. A 2" by 2"
by 1" lexan block was dispensed by a pneumatic feeder. The robot
then reached into the output of the feeder and picked up the block.
The robot then swung around to the milling machine and placed the block
in a vise. In the Lewiston Auburn area there are many industries that use automated manufacturing. Technicians who understand the principles and are able to program and repair these systems might find employment at Poland Spring, Gates-Formed Fiber, Tambrands, Country Kitchen or other local manufacturing employers. The world is changing rapidly with the use of technology in every phase
of our lives. To be competitive in today's world it is essential that
we train our young people to operate, maintain and build these systems.
Engineers need to understand systems and be able to make machines work
together. At Lewiston Regional Technical Center students have the opportunity
to get a big head start in understanding automation from design to implementation.
In understanding the laws of physics and the application of them to
everyday problem solving students are preparing themselves to live and
work in our fast paced, rapidly changing community and its industries |
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next step in the program was to send a signal to the pneumatic vise
to close and hold the block. The robot now moved back to stay out of
the path of the milling machine. A linear slide was activated to next
move the vise into position beneath the cutting tools. The cutting bit
next cut a pattern into the lexan. When the milling machine finished,
a signal reversed the robotic steps, bringing the robot back in to lift
the block out of the vise. The finished block was placed on the conveyor
belt to finish the process.
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