Numerical Control Programming: An Exciting Entry Point to Manufacturing Engineering Education
Year: 2025
Type: conference-paper
Abstract: The irony of the manufacturing profession today is that even though there is increasing need for skilled manufacturing technologists and engineers, fewer high school seniors are selecting manufacturing as a career.A large part of the problem stems from the perception of what is actually involved.Machine control is often visualized to be "turning handles" (often greasy dirty ones at that).In reality though, this is simply not the case as it is primarily direct interaction with computer numerical control (CNC), or even computer aided manufacturing (CAM) software and machine simulators.Indeed, most equipment in an advanced machine laboratory does not have any actual handles at all, only virtual ones.This paper discusses how the exciting world of advanced manufacturing machine control can be introduced when algebra topics are being studied at high school.While teaching the basics of the Cartesian coordinate system a few simple numerical control machine codes are also explained.This enables students to compose the code required to complete simple movements of a cutter and understand concepts of computer related manufacturing.Free, easy to use simulation software allows the students to test their code.This approach has been used in a technology course during the past 2 years at Arlington High School in the Boston area, with the cooperation of a local undergraduate technical institution (Wentworth Institute of Technology).Enrollment in the course doubled in the second year, resulting in having to turn away interested students.The present digital generation of students quickly learns computer application skills.As these students begin to appreciate how these skills can be used to control advanced manufacturing systems, it is hoped that they will become interested in investigating a manufacturing engineering or related degree. Section One: The Need for Manufacturing EducationAs some high volume production jobs leave for foreign factories the perception is that manufacturing careers that accompany them here in the US are going right with them.This is far from the truth.It is frequently only the highly repetitive, low skill jobs that are associated with the high volume output that goes.What remains here is the required high level of manufacturing knowledge needed to bring the next generation of products to the line.Often left out of the discussion is the need for increased education in manufacturing to insure we keep this capability.Following are some quotes taken from the Bureau of Labor Statistics Overview of the 2008-18 Projections, Production Heading: From the Significant Points section: Job opportunities are expected to be good in the manufacturing sector, particularly in growing, hightechnology industries.(1) From the Nature of the Work section:(1) Changes in technology have transformed the manufacturing and assembly process.Modern manufacturing systems use robots, computers, programmable motion control devices, and various sensing technologies.These systems change the way in which goods are made and affect the jobs of
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--53832
Author: Peter Rourke
Language: English
Subfield: Architecture
Field: Engineering
Domain: Physical Sciences
SDG: Quality education
Open Access status: gold
OpenAlex ID: W4409109296