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North Central State College was selected to receive an Ohio Board of Regents’ Non-Credit Job Training Capital Improvement Facilities Fund – Workforce Development Equipment and Facility grant of $264,877.
The competitive grant announced by Ohio Board of Regents Chancellor John Carey will provide for the installation of a Fabrication Laboratory (Fab Lab), and Computer Numerical Control (CNC) and robotics training equipment.
NC State President Dr. Dorey Diab expressed pleasure at the news of the grant award. “We are pleased with the award and the confidence shown in our college by the Board of Regents. The important part of the grant is it increases our ability to work with area companies to help them develop products, and train workers for high-paying jobs,” he said. “Through collaboration with our area partners, we are committed to serve the needs of our community and business and industry, to regain the vibrancy and vitality of our region.”
Projected at $190,265, the Fab Lab will consist of 3-D Rapid Prototyping Machines, an Epilog Laser Engraver/Cutter, a Vinyl Printer/Cutter, Benchtop CNC Milling Machine, Laser Scanner, Professional Series Computer Systems, and required training for NC State personnel.
Fab Labs are increasingly being adopted as platforms for project-based, hands-on STEM education and prototyping for entrepreneurs and small manufacturing concerns. Users learn by designing and creating objects relating to their field of interest or import. The Fab Lab can be a powerful tool for boosting small companies to another level by helping them prototype new products for their business.
In college classes, rather than relying on a fixed curriculum, learning happens in an engaging, personal context, one in which students go through cycles of imagination, design, prototyping, reflection and iteration as they find solutions to real-world challenges or bring their designs to life. In incumbent worker training offered through the Workforce Partnerships of North Central Ohio, trainees will experience the manufacturing process from concept to part production. Additionally, the Fab Lab will permit area manufacturers to produce prototype parts without the expense of design and installation of new production tooling in their plants for a limited part run.
In responding to requests from area industries, NC State also will use grant funds to acquire FANUC CNC Certified Education Training equipment as a part of the Fab Lab. The CNC certification cart takes classroom training to a new level by allowing students to experience the complete programming, setup and operational workflow inside the classroom. The FANUC CNC certification cart is projected at $39,987.
NC State also will acquire a Conveyor Cart to create an integrated material handling mechatronic work cell. Designed to operate with FANUC robots to be purchased through the $2.9 million grant previously awarded by the U.S. Department of Labor, the Conveyor Cart is estimated at $34,625.
Key partners in the project include the Workforce Partnerships of North Central Ohio, the Small Business Development Center, the Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership, the Richland Community Development Group, Richland County Job and Family Services , The Ohio State University at Mansfield, Ashland County West Holmes Career Center, Knox County Career Center, Madison Adult Career Center, Pioneer Career & Technology Center, Diversified Assemblies Inc., The Gorman-Rupp Co., Mansfield Plumbing Products, and Newman Technologies Inc.