Iron Man Mask Comes to Lincoln Tech in Indianapolis
It’s a great time to be a movie lover, and Lincoln Tech schools have been inspired to turn the hits of the cinema into hands-on projects in their labs and training bays. To celebrate the arrival in theaters of Marvel’s Captain America: Civil War, the Director of the CNC Machining & Manufacturing Technology program at Lincoln Tech in Indianapolis has recreated a piece of the blockbuster franchise: the iconic Iron Man mask!
“I wanted to show our students how the modern technology in today's machines and our latest programming software can be used to make things besides general parts and components,” says CNC Director Kevin Christian. “If we make things like the Iron Man mask, the Captain America shield, and aluminum Legos – and we’re working on all of these – we’re producing things students really relate to! And it motivates them to stay focused on the end goal of their training: manufacturing is returning to America, and new careers are available in the growing American manufacturing industry.”
CNC Manufacturing is Computer Numerical Control Machining. With this equipment and today's software, the manufacturing industry can now produce parts at an unbelievable rate. This is called "high speed machining" - and it’s redefining “manufacturing” for the 21st century. In this case, the mask started with a solid block of 100 percent aluminum. Kevin programmed the CNC machine with the mask’s dimensions and specifications and let the 3-axis vertical mill and its cutting tools do the rest! The finishing touch – the red, yellow and blue paint job – was provided by the school’s Collision Repair and Refinishing training department. And the entire process was captured by a GoPro camera mounted inside the machine.
CNC CAREERS ARE GROWING ACROSS AMERICA
CNC machines like the equipment at the Indianapolis campus are bringing new life to the American manufacturing tradition. The field is projected to add more than 64,000 jobs around the country by 2024, according to careeronestop.org*, and manufacturing professionals are critical parts of the teams building components for the aviation industry, artificial joints, automotive manufacturers, electronic devices and many, many more.
CNC training isn’t the only thing happening at the Indianapolis campus: every year graduates go on to launch exciting, rewarding careers as Diesel technicians, Automotive technicians, Electronic Systems professionals, and Collision Repair specialists. The school also recently added high-voltage electrical training to provide even more career paths for students to pursue.
Visit Lincoln Tech in Indianapolis to learn more about a career in machining and manufacturing.
*Source: www.careeronestop.org for the years 2014-2024.