Campus News

Precision Machining Program Receives Equipment

5/30/17
Granite Falls Campus

Minnesota West's Precision Machining Program has received a new Haas Mini Mill valued at $36,000 for its lab. This is a 3 axis CNC (computer numeric control) machining center. Also included is a control panel CNC simulator.

The students will learn to design their product and then program that configuration on the new machine. Once information is entered on the CNC, the machine will utilize a variety of drill bits to cut and shape a part (or tool) used for various means in industry.  
 
As a member of the Minnesota Advancing Manufacturing Partnership (MnAMP), Minnesota West received $36,000 in funding provided by a grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor's Employment and Training Administration. The Minnesota Advanced Manufacturing Partnership is a consortium of 12 geographically-dispersed community colleges and two universities from Minnesota State which was created to help close the manufacturing skills gap in Minnesota. To address this gap, a 15 million dollar Trade Adjustment Assistance Community College and Career Training (TAACCCT) Grant was awarded to the consortium and focuses on career pathways in advanced manufacturing specific to Precision Machining, Mechatronics, and Welding.

Ray Louwagie, Minnesota West Precision Machining instructor, comments, “Haas CNC Machine Tools are a 100% American manufactured in CA. The VMC (vertical machining center) is a CNC (computer numerical control) machine, similar to a manual vertical mill; however, it has capabilities of automatic tool changes and the ability to machine complicated geometry paths on the workpiece. This addition to the Precision Machining Program at the Granite Falls Campus will allow students to become familiar with state of the art machine tools currently being used in industry.”