GADgET Girls Visit Century Metal Spinning Company

GADgET Girls in Century Metal Spinning's Conference Room

On July 24th, the GADgET Girls Camp (Girls Adventuring in Design Engineering and Technology) visited and took a tour at Century Metal Spinning Company. The girls camp, based in River Grove, IL, is run by Antigone Sharris, an instructor at Triton College, who worked at Century Metal Spinning in high school. The camp is funded partially by Triton College and by the Nuts, Bolts & Thingamajigs Foundation of The Fabricators & Manufacturing Association, International. The goal of the camp is to expose young girls to opportunities in manufacturing that they may have never considered, and encourage them to pursue technical careers where women are underrepresented.  The week long camp takes the girls to different manufacturing companies where they meet the workers and have the opportunity to operate some of the machines. Along with factory visits, the girls engineer and construct different objects throughout the week, working with materials such as wood, metal, foam board, fiber glass, and PVC pipes.



Learning how a CMM operates



At their visit to Century Metal Spinning, the GADgET girls began their day in a ‘board meeting’ to learn about the metal spinning process. Janet Kaiser, Century Metal Spinning Company’s president, led the group. She talked to them about different applications for metal spinning, the industries it is used in, and all of the various products that can be produced.



GADgET Girls on the factory floor



After learning about the industry, the girls were shown how engineering and computer programs are used to design each product. That was followed with how the finished pieces are inspection and the use of advanced technology. The next part of the tour took the girls through the plant. They viewed demonstrations on how to use the machines and the processes involved to create a final product. The girls had an opportunity to use some of the metal spinning machines with the assistance of a staff member. At the end of the day, they completed a small aluminum bowl, and were able to see first-hand the many different aspects and opportunities in this branch of manufacturing.



GADgET Girls Camp outside Century Metal Spinning Company



After finishing their visit at Century Metal Spinning, the girls visited a second woman owned factory in the area, ACE Metal Craft. Visit their website here.

For more information on supporting career awareness efforts like this camp, visit the foundation's website at:

www.NutsAndBoltsFoundation.org

To learn more or to support GADgET Girls Camp, please contact Antigone Sharris, Triton College, River Grove, IL directly at:

asharris@triton.edu

Coordinate Measuring Machines

Coordinate Measuring Machine 

Coordinate measuring machines (CMM) gather the surface x, y, z coordinates of an object to precisely measure its size and position for testing, dimensional and profile measurement, angularity or orientation, depth mapping, digitizing or imaging, assessment, and reverse engineering. It does this by analyzing the x, y, z coordinates via regression algorithms to construct features. At Century Metal Spinning uses it as an inspection device that allows for the measurement of any part quickly, efficiently, and accurately.

Metal Spinning Basics

The metal spinning process begins with a flat disk or tube of metal spun at a high speed on a lathe. A spinning tool applies localized pressure that pushes the metal to form over a mold. This process transforms the flat sheet of metal into a round symmetrical part. Metal can be formed into cylinders, cones, hemispheres, and many other circular shapes. Metal spinning can be performed either by hand or using a computer numerical control (CNC) lathe. 

Women in Manufacturing Annual Summit

The Pfister Hotel
Milwaukee, WI
October 29-30, 2012

Mark your calendars to join us for the 2nd Annual Women in Manufacturing summit in Milwaukee on October 29-30, 2012.

This annual networking and educational event is designed exclusively for women who have chosen a career in the manufacturing industry, and want to share perspectives, improve leadership and communication skills, engage in mentoring programs and network with others in the industry.

Women in Manufacturing

Women in Manufacturing is a subgroup of The Precision Metalforming Association (PMA) created specifically for women in the manufacturing industry. This community hopes to help women within the industry to connect with each other, network, share information and experience, and learn from one another.

Century Metal Spinning's New Website

Century Metal Spinning has a new revamped website.

Make sure you check it out at:

http://www.centurymetalspinning.com/

               
                Radar Calibration photos and information at:

http://www.centurymetalspinning.com/radar-calibration-spheres

               
               Radar Calibration Sphere ordering page:

http://www.centurymetalspinning.com/products/radar_calibration_spheres.asp

Quality information and certifications at:

http://www.centurymetalspinning.com/quality/index-quality.asp

If you have any questions about what we can do for you, please give Janet or Scott a call at:

(630) 595-3900.

Below is a quick video of the metal spinning process.