The Vaughn College Engineering and Technology department hosted its fifth annual Manufacturing Day conference on Friday, November 1. The conference focused on the advances in the engineering and technology industries and showcased the opportunities for manufacturers to highlight their work while raising awareness about the advantages of pursuing a career in manufacturing.

Five speakers addressed the Vaughn community about innovation in the areas of industry 4.0, digital twin technology, aerospace industry sensors, additive manufacturing, and the integration of coordinate measure machining (CMM) and computer numerical control (CNC). The professional speakers included Tony Oran, vice president of sales and marketing at Festo Didactic; Michael Robinaugh, director of global channel sales development at Dassault Systèmes; Carlos Asoro, senior aircraft avionics engineer at Lockheed Martin (Sikorsky Aircraft); Manuel Jesus, Vaughn engineering and technology professor and Rachid Nafaa, CNC lab specialist at Vaughn.

After an introduction from President Dr. Sharon B. DeVivo, Oran launched the conference by presenting the core elements of industry 4.0 and how Festo Didactic is working towards making the future adaptable in the technology plant by the utilization of highly flexible and energy-efficient assembly lines, providing a flexible, flowing production of information and materials, optimizing energy consumption and training. Rachid Nafaa concluded the conference with his presentation on the integration of CMM and CNC machining. Nafaa provided a visual representation of the result of a coordinate-measuring machine and gave insight into the effects of integrating coordinate-measure machines and computer numerical control.

In addition to the ongoing conference, the unmanned aerial vehicle and robotics clubs hosted workshops on design and autonomous programming for 50 visiting students from Bayside High School, Thomas Edison High School and Westbury High School. The workshops introduced participants to how drones are built and the entire manufacturing process. Furthermore, the robotics club instructed visiting students on the structural design process for the creation of a robot that would be able to perform quickly and accurately during a competition. Participants were also able to witness and fly drones in hangar with club members.

 

Michael Robinaugh, Dassault Systèmes, presenting the Development of the Digital Twin.
Unmanned aerial vehicle and robotics club flying drones with participants in the hangar.