Middle school students learned first-hand about STEM (science, technology, engineering and math) careers from the people who work in them. More than a dozen local professionals, including Tom Houle, Matsuura Machinery USA, Inc. LUMEX Director, took part in a STEM event at Stillwater Middle School in Stillwater, MN.
Local businesses and organizations provided interactive activities for students. Students were exposed to creative and problem-solving situations with the guidance of STEM mentors.
"This event was a fun and quick way to provide exposure to many STEM careers in their own school," said a Stillwater Middle School spokesperson.
Houle shared details about Matsuura's cutting-edge technology, the Matsuura LUMEX Series. The Matsuura LUMEX Series is a powder bed metal additive manufacturing (AM) platform with subtractive capability. The Matsuura LUMEX Series combines selective laser sintering (SLS) along with high speed milling (HSM) commonly called Hybrid AM.
"Tom helped students make the connection of how AM is used in industry and boosted their interest in STEM careers," said Christopher Fahey, a teacher of integration and technology at Stillwater Middle School. "He demonstrated components produced from powder on Matsuura's LUMEX machines. They enjoyed learning about the Matsuura LUMEX powder bed metal AM platform with subtractive capability."
According to the U. S. Department of Education, only 16% of the country's high school seniors have proven proficiency in mathematics and declared interest in STEM careers.
"At Matsuura Machinery USA Inc., our continued success is based on our exceptionally skilled workforce, offering traditional craftsmanship combined with state-of-the-art engineering principles and our total commitment to excellence in product design, innovation and manufacturing," said a company spokesperson.
"We are proud to be a part of educating tomorrow's generation about the exciting future and careers available in science, technology, engineering and math. We invite the students to visit our 40,000-sq. ft. state-of-the-art facility and see our machines in action," Houle said.
"Often referred to as a 'one machine, one process' cutting solution, the Matsuura LUMEX Series permits production of the most complex and challenging parts through total manufacturing by digital engineering using 3-D data," Houle said.
"This process produces remarkable accuracy as metal powders are melted and sintered via laser while surfaces are precisely milled at high speeds," he said. "The Matsuura LUMEX Series possesses both high-speed milling plus laser sintering capability. Engineers are free to conceive innovative ideas and revolutionizing conventional manufacturing."
For more information contact:
Matsuura Machinery USA
325 Randolph Ave., Ste. 100
St. Paul, MN 55102
800-518-4584 / 651-289-9700
info@matsuurausa.com
www.matsuurausa.com