2 days ago
Students learn to make parts, find careers at special Calhoun camp
Jun. 13—Colton Naylor tested his skill — and luck — while making precision machine parts this week during a special camp at Calhoun Community College.
The intensive four-day Precision Machining Academy gives dozens of students practical, hands-on exposure to the world of CNC machining, parts design and modeling, said Amber Fortenberry, director of talent development and recruitment for the Decatur-Morgan County Chamber of Commerce, which partners with Calhoun for the event.
There will be another camp in July. Participants gained experience in programming skills, including such tasks as configuring tool offsets, setting up machines and operating equipment safely and proficiently. Students were also introduced to the use of precision measuring tools.
This camp for students entering grades ninth through 12th grades was held at the Advanced Technology Center on Calhoun's Decatur campus.
Naylor, 16, of Hartselle, who is home schooled, said he was drawn to the camp as a sort of career exploration. Machining interested him.
"Just trying to figure out what I want to do," he said.
He learned a lot this week.
"I learned just how complicated machining is. I knew programming was complicated but there is a lot more learning to that than I knew."
He said he "really liked" the machining part of the camp. He said each part had to be programmed before they could make it. He held out something he had made — a tiny cylindrical metal device that lets air pass through. He said it was part of an engine that blows air. He gets to keep the gizmo as a memento.
Fortenberry said there is such a need for machinists in the Decatur-Morgan County area that the camp is a good way to generate interest.
"What's happening is we have a population that is aging out; they are ready for retirement. So, we are really trying to expose these kids to the machining trade and how to work all of the machines so we can get them into the industries that are looking for them."
According to the chamber, those who sponsored the event were able to connect their brand with future workers in the industry while supporting them in gaining valuable, high-demand skills as well as partnering with Calhoun to drive local workforce development.
Fortenberry said sponsors included Indorama Ventures, Industrial Manufacturing Specialties, Nucor Decatur, Joe Wheeler EMC, Redstone Federal Credit Union and Turner Industries.
In addition to learning how parts are machined, the students get to see where these parts wind up, Fortenberry said. For example, the parts they make may end up with United Launch Alliance and end up in space.
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