2018 Precision Machining Competition Honors Students

In support of the local Technology & Manufacturing Association (TMA), Mazak’s Midwest Technology Center hosted the 27^th annual 2018 Precision Machining Competition, which honors excellence in precision machining skills among Illinois high school students. At the awards ceremony Thursday evening, May 10, TMA presented 52 students with first, second and third-place awards in six machining categories.

Many of the event’s activities took place in the machining demonstration area of Mazak’s Midwest Technology Center. There students, their parents and instructors traveled from up to 60 miles away to explore the latest in advanced machining technology. Attendees also visited with more than 35 representatives from the local manufacturing industry who answered students’ questions and discussed opportunities in manufacturing careers.

Over 240 students from 20 local high schools, including new participants from Cary-Grove and Glenbard East High Schools, submitted more than 292 projects for this year’s contest. Students chose from 25 eligible projects of varying degrees of difficulty across three divisions. New to the event this year were three categories with three awards each covering design and programming for machine tools: CNC CAM Basic, CNC CAM Intermediate and CNC Design.

Students could also compete in the National Institute for Metalworking Skills (NIMS) Intermediate, NIMS Advanced, NIMS CNC Intermediate and NIMS CNC Advanced divisions and submit their projects to NIMS to receive certification for their skills. Each student had to machine a part according to exact specifications, submitted the completed part and judges measured part accuracy.