BRTC Machine Tool Technology to Host Arkansas SkillsUSA Additive Manufacturing Competition

BRTC Arkansas SkillsUSA Members

(L to R) Back row: Dustin Johnson, Hank Dubois, Krystina Compton, Aaron Mauldin, Kade Inness

(L to R) Front row: Jywon Green, Jakob Barnhill, Michael Faber

For the first time ever, Black River Technical College (BRTC) will host an Arkansas SkillsUSA Additive Manufacturing Competition March 29 at the Pocahontas BRTC location in the Richard Gaines Business Technology building.

The additive manufacturing competition is made up of four sections.  Students will take an online test before the competition, write a resume that will be turned in and judged on-site, dress code, and additive manufacturing.

Required dress code is an official SkillsUSA white polo shirt, black dress slacks or black dress skirt (knee-length minimum), and black closed-toe dress shoes; if black shoes are worn competitors must wear a black belt.

After that, competitors will receive a blueprint for the part that will be manufactured with all specifications included. Competitors will then be required to model the part and export it to Cura software provided at BRTC, after which it will be uploaded to one of the 3-D Printers also provided by BRTC, to print the part specified.

Teams will consist of two man/woman teams with a total of three teams per secondary and post-secondary schools. The competition is open to all Arkansas SkillsUSA members. There will be three prize levels; gold, silver, and bronze. Gold will receive a state-of-the-art 3D printer, silver will receive a lower level 3D printer and bronze will receive an Amazon gift card, provided by the competition sponsors Southern Cast Products, Jonesboro Tool & Die, and Erosion Technology Inc.

Southern Cast Products (SCP) is owned by Doug Irmie. Southern cast provides cutting edge solutions including robo-molding, foundry, metallurgy, and iron casting as well as using robot casting and rapid prototyping.  The facility is set up to design, alloy aluminum parts, machine the parts and ship directly to the customer. SCP is the only machine shop designed to efficiently run all aspects.

Erosion Technologies Inc. (ETI) is owned by Waylan Deen. Students saw a smaller number of machines, though just as important, as ETI is set up for specialized and very close tolerances serving a niche category of machining. They serve the automotive, aerospace, energy, food, medical and die/mold industries. ETI specializes in CNC milling, two and four axis wire EDM, and small hole EDM.

Jonesboro Tool & Die (JTD) is owned by Shannon Lenderman. Students saw multiple machines in action including a blanchard grinder, punch press, CNC lathe and mill, boring mills, laser cutting machines, and wire EDM machines. JTD is a state-of-the-art facility that has cornered the market in Northeast Arkansas.

Meals will be provided by The Black River Grill and The Coffee Shop @ Pocahontas, that proudly serves Starbucks products, will be available for attendees.

In order to compete in the competition students must be an active SkillsUSA member.

For more information on BRTC”s Machine Tool Technology program contact Rick Barker at (870)248-4139 or email him at rick.barker@blackrivertech.edu.