This past year Lenoir City Schools in Tennessee, through the leadership of CTE Director, Mark Weeks, was excited to announce the recent addition of three new ShopBot CNC machines to their middle school STEM and high school Pre-Engineering Programs. This innovative acquisition allows students to take their designs from concept to reality, fostering a true hands-on learning experience. Students are now able to design a product, research production costs, order materials, produce the item, and sell it to the public.
Preparing for this exciting program, many teachers from various disciplines, including Engineering instructor Mr. Steven Code, along with some of his students, participated in training with ShopBot rep, Brett Dickinson. This department-wide collaboration ensured a smooth implementation across various programs.
Mr. Code will be first to admit, the star of the show was Josh Hoekstra, a Pre-Engineering student, who exemplifies the program’s potential. Throughout the past few years, he has consistently demonstrated exceptional skills and a passion for engineering. Josh was not only selected to attend the ShopBot training but also played a crucial role in assembling the new equipment and setting up the school’s engineering maker space and manufacturing shop. His dedication goes beyond the classroom, with Josh volunteering before and after school, during advisory periods, and even over the summer.
Josh’s commitment extended beyond the school walls. Through a partnership program, he secured a summer internship at TGS Precision, a leading CNC manufacturing facility in Lenoir City, TN. This invaluable experience allowed him to gain a comprehensive understanding of the entire manufacturing process, from quality control to engineering. Here is Josh’s description of the experience: “Throughout the summer, I spent one week in each of these departments: quality, materials and shipping, milling, turning, laser cutting, CAM programming, maintenance, and engineering. During the last week, I had the opportunity to design and manufacture a modification to the fixturing of a high-volume part. In addition to learning about the responsibilities and how each department carries out those responsibilities, I gained a bird’s eye view of the entire manufacturing process and learned the unique problems that arise from fully custom low production to high volume manufacturing.”
His supervisors at TGS could not say enough positive things about him and his CNC capabilities. In every assignment he was given whether in machining, production, programming, quality control or troubleshooting, Josh exceeded expectations. Whether it be the equipment at TGS or his school’s three ShopBot CNC machines, Josh was never reluctant to ask good, probing questions so he could fully grasp the foundational concepts behind each machine and control software he was using.
Back at Lenoir City High School this year, Josh has thrived as the Pre-Engineering Intern through the Work Based Learning program. He has:
● Designed the layout for the new engineering equipment.
● Managed material and parts inventory.
● Calculated production costs and profits.
● Coordinated with the school store to sell student-made products.
● Promoted products through online advertising.
● Developed new product ideas.
● Trained other students on using the ShopBots and other equipment.
● Collaborated with engineering volunteers in the maker space.
Josh’s talent and hard work continues to be recognized. He ended the school year as the first student to complete his ShopBot CNC Certification. This summer, he will be working on a research project at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, focusing on creating a system to recycle machining waste into materials for 3D printing. In the fall, Josh will pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering, aiming to gain further internship experience to refine his career goals. Lenoir City High School is proud of Josh’s accomplishments and excited about the opportunities the ShopBot equipment and certification program offers all students. This innovative initiative allows students to develop valuable design, manufacturing, and business skills, preparing them for success in the ever-evolving world of engineering.
More info about Lenoir City Schools engineering program – HERE
And all CTE offerings from LCS can be viewed – HERE
Photos provided by Lenoir City Schools
Article by Brett Dickinson