MONROE

South Piedmont Community College’s Machining Technology Program received two new machines Oct. 28 that are loaded with options, advanced instructional opportunities and expectations. College officials say it’s the most important investment in manufacturing training in the college’s 10-year history.

And they owe it all to a $247,500 grant from the Duke Energy Community College Grant Program.

“This equipment will move us to the forefront of training in advanced machining technology,” SPCC President John McKay said in a press release. “There are only three other community colleges in North Carolina with this level of machines.”

It’s the third Duke Energy grant awarded to SPCC’s Advanced Manufacturing programs in the last two years. Since 2007, the Machining Technology and Mechatronics programs have secured more than $700,000 in grants. In that same time period, those programs have trained more than 175 workers.

“SPCC is committed to supporting the manufacturing sector by providing a highly-skilled workforce,” Stuart Wasilowski, vice president of Workforce Development and Continuing Education, said in the release. “I think our Duke Energy grant efforts prove we’re serious about growing our services and giving our students every possible advantage that we can.”

The machining program was created in direct response to local manufacturers’ need for a trained work force. Students are taught blueprint reading, measuring tools, shop math, and lathe and milling machine operations.

The new HAAS machines are equipped with extra options including 4- and 5-axis, live tooling, touch setting, probing and programmable cooling nozzles. Machining coordinator Mike Willard ordered the extra options for a reason.

“In one way or another, all our industries use the options found on these machines,” Willard said. “It adds more versatility to our training.”

It could also add more classes to the school schedule, Willard said. The machines can be incorporated into current courses including “CNC Machining” and “Advanced Machining Technology,” or the options can be broken into their own courses.

“We’ll be able to teach courses based on the specific components,” Willard said. “For example, I could teach a class on 5-axis.”

The HAAS SL-20 is a lathe with live tools that has the capability to do milling operations. The HAAS VF-1 has a 5-axis option with the use of a trunion fixture.

The more options Willard has to train students with, the more experience they carry with them into the workplace. That’s why SPCC continues to invest in the program and why Willard’s classes are popular.

“We’re overwhelmed,” he said. “It’s an awesome industry and you need to have a passion for it.”

Graduates can find employment as machine operators, setup workers and engineers.