Support for Robotics Programs State-wide

Support for Robotics Programs State-wide

The Makery project held three professional development courses this winter for teachers and support staff in the First Robotics program who wanted to incorporate hands-on design and building into their robotic competitions. Teachers learned to use Autodesk Inventor, a 3D computer aided drawing (CAD) program, to design and create parts for robots. The next step had teachers using the CAD/CAM/CNC process by turning a CAD design into computer aided manufacturing (CAM) computer code. The outputted CAM computer code was then inputted into another computer that controlled a computer numerically controlled (CNC) machine, which then cut out the 3D objects.

This winter’s workshops were held in Honolulu and Hilo and included 31 teachers and support staff from Baldwin High School, Honoka‘a High School, Kalāheo High School, Konawaena High School, Mililani High School, Moanalua High School, Nānākuli High School, Waiākea High School, Wai‘anae High School, and Waialua High School. The PD course included four four-hour Autodesk Inventor design training sessions  and two seven-hour hands-on workshops where teachers used the laser cutter and CNC machines to cut out their inventor-designed products.

The Makery team of Neil Scott, Raemi Tokuhama, and Kevin Gill strives to promote easy access to high quality machines and proper machining practices. The team is in the process of developing a classroom desktop CNC machine. Once completed, each school will take home a classroom desktop CNC machine from the workshop.