Donation adds value to MCC’s Precision Machining Engineering Technology Program
Thanks to a donation to Meridian Community College’s Precision Machining Engineering Technology Program, students will have more tools at their disposal.
Benz Tooling, one of the world's leading manufacturers and suppliers of components and systems for tooling and machine tooling technology, has donated a Select Line Right Angle Head both a radial and axial Soildfix Output spindle. Brian Warren, Precision Machining Engineering Technology Program coordinator and instructor and division chair said the donation carries a retail value of $12,000.
The donation will be used in two of the program's machines, a Haas VF4SS and a Haas ST30Y, which are located in the Gene Haas Advanced Manufacturing Center at the College’s Workforce Development Center.
Stuart Busman, regional sales manager Southeast for Benz Tooling, noted the company has given to other schools, but this is the first partnership in Mississippi.
“It’s good for students to see the technology, and it’s good for Benz – the name gets out among the students and the students eventually get out into the workforce … it’s good synergy,” Busman said.
Warren said the donation’s benefits are far-reaching. “We are grateful for this donation to the program for the enhancement of our students. Our curriculum affords us to teach advanced CNC machining operations currently used in industry machining standards. Students do not often get a chance to use a peripheral like a right-angle head attachment or quick change live tool holders,” Warren said.
He added, “It is great for our students to be able to learn this while in school because it not only better prepares them for the workforce, but it also gets them in the mindset of being more efficient by minimizing set up and change over time used in production setting.”
Warren said graduates from the program primarily go to work as CNC operators and set-up technicians in firearms, medical manufacturing, aerospace and energy fields, so they will see this technology daily once they graduate.
“This donation lessens the learning curve once they graduate and make the transition from the college's advanced manufacturing lab to the production floor of industry which in turn will springboard the advancement of their career,” he said.
Photo: Stuart Busman, regional sales manager Southeast for Benz Tooling, left, demonstrates tool components to MCC President Dr. Thomas Huebner.