Parallax Offer for Mechatronics Instructors

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Teach Mechatronics? Parallax Inc. is offering Propeller 2 Developer Bundles to those teaching Mechatronics to sample and provide feedback.

Parallax announced: “To support the professors with Fall 2021 course integration in mind, we’re sampling a half-dozen Propeller 2 Developer Bundles for evaluation, through March. The requirements of the program are basic: you’re a mechatronics professor; you’ll participate in one Zoom focus group meeting with other mechatronics professors in May to share ideas; and, you’ll provide us with some feedback on your interests for applications.” Send your request to the Parallax Inc. Education Hotline.

March Manufacturing Webinars Offered by Partners

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CMTC and Parallax announced these webinars which may be of interest to instructors and industry partners.

March 9 – 11 AM CMTC 10 Steps to Preparing Your Manufacturing Business for a Sale

March 12 – 1 PM CMTC California Manufacturing Technology Consulting Executive Talk | by TMA BlueTech

March 16 — 10 AM CMTC How Printed Tooling, Fixtures, & Jigs Can Improve Productivity in CNC Shops

March 17 — 11 AM CMTC Quality 501: How to Become a Customer’s Premium Supplier

Mar. 23 — 2 PM Parallax and cyber.org – What’s a Microcontroller? for Python with the micro:bit v2.0 Module Part 2

March 24 — 11 AM CMTC Guidance on Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Temp. COVID-19 Standard for Manufacturers

April 21 — 11 AM CMTC Guidance on Cal/OSHA’s Emergency Temp. COVID-19 Standard for Manufacturers

Student Can Access Autodesk® Fusion 360® Works From Any Browser

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Di Jin, Account Manager, Autodesk Education Experiences, Autodesk®, announced at the February Shop Talk that Autodesk® Fusion 360® is now available as a web app for all students and educators — no download required. Jin has been an amazing resource to educators during COVID, according to Jeff Briggs, Regional Director, Advanced Manufacturing, North Region. “Di attends the Shop Talk to share updates and takes educators’ questions and ideas back to the Autodesk® team,” said Briggs.
Many manufacturing instructors use Autodesk® Fusion 360®, an integrated 3D CAD, CAM, and CAE tool, to prepare students with critical skills for employment. The company learned that as many as 600,000 students across California lacked computing devices for remote instruction, according to State Superintendent of Public Instruction, Tony Thurmond, at the California Department of Education.
Autodesk® announced: “In a move to promote equality of opportunity and access to technology, Autodesk is making Fusion 360 available on all devices with a modern browser. The move marks a continued push for accessibility in the Autodesk Education Community, following the widespread success of Fusion 360 for Chromebooks.”
To get started with the Fusion 360 web app, visit the Autodesk® website from any device with a keyboard (this excludes tablets and mobile phones such as iPads and iPhones), and log in using your educational account credentials. For more information, please visit the Autodesk® FAQ page.

Cordova High School Joined the February Breakfast with a Manufacturer

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On February 11, 2021, Cordova High School participated in the Breakfast with a Manufacturer series, arranged by Edu2Mfg in partnership with the Sacramento Valley Manufacturing Alliance. Twenty-seven students in Faith Caplin’s advanced engineering class spent an hour virtually interacting with Mike Bell, Mechanical Engineer.  Bell has a wide range of experience as an engineer and as a faculty member at both California State University Sacramento and Sierra College.  
Bell offered the students a thorough overview of what manufacturing engineers do on the job. He explained many aspects of an engineer’s involvement in manufacturing projects. Bell also shared the wide variety of interesting experiences students might have if they embark on a manufacturing career.
When asked what skill set would benefit students most in the future, Bell said, “Have a working knowledge of software development and how software is an integral part of various technologies.”

Attend the CCCAOE Conference in March 2021

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The California Community College Association for Occupational Education (CCCAOE) will be held remotely for three weeks during March, starting on the third. The theme is “Modeling Inclusiveness leads to a sustainable call to action.” This is a great opportunity to share best practices. The nine day interactive conference will take place March 3-5, 9-11 and 16-18. Learn more from the CCCOAE Spring 2021 Conference flyer.

Best Practices for Virtual Advisory Meetings Sought

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We are all familiar with inviting industry partners to in-person on advisory meetings where they can network with each other, communicate changing business needs, talk to students, tour lab spaces and engage in a lively in-person discussion on the pros and cons of changing curriculum or updating equipment. But what are you doing now? With COVID, instructors are seeking effective ways to attract manufacturing representatives to online meetings, virtually collect their insights to guide their programs and provide a valuable experience through the screen.

What has worked for you to engage industry partners and collect their insights?

How are you adapting your advisory meetings?

Please email Jeff Briggs with your thoughts and ideas so we can develop best practices to benefit everyone.

Smart Manufacturing Webinar on Feb. 17

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The Community Colleges in San Diego and Imperial counties have invited those in the Sacramento region to attend their manufacturing webinars on AutoDesk®, Smart Manufacturing, Automation, Health & Manufacturing and Industry Collaboration.

The February Advanced Manufacturing Sector Discussion Forum topic is Smart Manufacturing Technologies on Feb 17, 2021 at 3 PM. Register in advance for Smart Manufacturing Technologies. After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Sierra College Delivers Employer Training

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Since 2003, Sierra College Training & Development has customized employer training to develop manufacturing employees’ skills and increase productivity. Businesses that train staff report increased efficiency as well as retention of skilled workers. During COVID, online training is available by making contact through the Sierra College Training website.

SVMI Becomes SVMA

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SVMI was originally organized by manufacturers in the greater Sacramento region to work with educators and industry partners to proactively develop vocational, educational and workforce initiatives and programs leading to fulfilling manufacturing career paths for our region’s students and workforce. The group recently changed its name from an initiative to the Sacramento Valley Manufacturing Alliance (SVMA) to reflect the maturing organization’s successful partnerships.

Robotics Competition to Improve Building Envelope for Energy Efficiency

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With over $5 million in prizes, the overarching goal of American-Made Challenge E-ROBOT is to catalyze the development of minimally invasive, low-cost and holistic building envelope retrofit solutions that make retrofits easier, faster, safer and more accessible for workers.

Successful competitors will provide solutions that provide significant advancements in robot technologies that will advance the energy efficiency retrofit industry and develop building envelope retrofit technologies. Learn more about the E-Robot competition.