Page 42 - CNC West Oct-Nov 2021

IN THE LANE
SIMULATION SOFTWARE HELPS STUDENTS AT THIS PACIFIC NORTHWEST TECHNICAL COLLEGE CHART SUCCESSFUL CAREER PATHS
Like many schools, Lane Community College (LCC) in Eugene, Oregon has been challenged by COVID-related closures. Students and staff alike look forward to a return to normalcy, especially those in the manufacturing programs.
One of Steve Caffey’s students likened toolpath simulation and verification software to the navigation system in his car, in that it guides
him through a series of step-by-step directions. Another, a devotee of manual machining, had sworn off CNC operation entirely until taking Caffey’s class on toolpath simulation; he’s now one of its biggest fans. And given the impact of pandemic-related school shutdowns over the past year or so, Caffey—a 50-year veteran of the machine trades—has become even more of a believer.
“When COVID first hit, we were struggling,” said Caffey, the Manufacturing Program director at Lane Community College in Eugene, Oregon. “Unlike some
of the courses taught here, it’s practically impossible to teach CNC machine programming in a Zoom session. But VERICUT has allowed me to do exactly that. In fact, the classes where we use it are my favorite. By giving them a much better understanding of what’s going on inside the machine tool, it’s made a huge difference to our students. I’ll even go so far as to say VERICUT has become indispensable.”
TEACHING THE TRADES
Among its many career opportunities, Lane Community College (LCC) offers two-year associate degrees in manufacturing technology, one focused on
40 www.CNC-West.com
CNC WEST October/November 2021
Supplied by CTTech/VERICUT