Lake Superior State University mechanical engineering projects manager Mark Rodriguez (center, reaching) checks out the control panel of a newly delivered Haas TL-1 computer numerically controlled (CNC) lathe on Oct. 6. The machine is owned by Sault Ste. Marie Advanced Resources and Technology, Inc., but will be housed in the manufacturing laboratory of LSSU’s Center for Applied Science and Technology (CASET). LSSU students and faculty – along with Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone clients, many of whom are partners with student teams on senior engineering projects – will use the TL-1 to master CNC techniques and fabricate specialized parts. A USDA Rural Business Development Grant underwrote its purchase with matching funds from LSSU’s School of Engineering and Technology (SET). Looking on clockwise from top are SET academic assistant Laura Bofinger; LSSU engineering student Nick Letts (plaid shirt; mechanical engineering senior from North Branch, Mich.); Eric Becks, engineering projects manager of LSSU’s Product Development Center and CEO of the Sault Ste. Marie SmartZone; laboratory engineer Jeff King (sunglasses); and Dr. David Roland Finley, dean of LSSU’s School of Engineering and Technology. Run a Web search on “Discover LSSU’ to customize an education at Lake State.
