Manufacturing @ Beaumont Leys
   (CAD/CAM)

The manufacturing room presents a vast and exciting range of exciting projects to work on - ranging from making mobile phone covers or designing and cutting decorative patterns for games consoles to building F1 racing cars. The new Manufacturing suite is equipped with 31 all-in-one pcs, two electronic whiteboards mounted on two walls, so that students can view video and teaching content clearly, and a range of manufacturing equipment. The rear of the room is partitioned off to contain the milling and routing machines, the vacuum former and the new laser cutter. Students can work without distraction in the main body of the room whilst others can see their work being produced on the machines. Prodesktop (v8.0) and Techsoft 2D are the main software titles in the room. New Laser cutter provides more CAD / CAM opportunities A new 30 Watt Versalaser was installed over the Easter holidays. This is so simple to use, it acts as a normal printer attached to its computer and will cut out shapes designed in Techsoft 2D, Photoshop, Corel Draw and even clipart pasted in from Word. It is also incredibly quick: a set of 30 keyring shapes can be cut out in only a few minutes! The laser can cut to depths of up to 5mm in most materials as well as being able to engrave onto glass and plastics. This adds to the range of CAD / CAM processes that students and teachers can take advantage of at the CLC. Support for Teachers As well as the Prodesktop and Speedstep training that the CLCs run, a number of schools have taken advantage of the free offer of 'outreach' support work. This offer is still available to schools. Teachers can contact Tony Gill at the CLC who will be happy to visit the school with a view to training staff, assisting with equipment problems and generally being available to answer any queries relating to software, hardware or CAD/CAM activities. Schools supported by our Outreach service this year: Soar Valley D+T (CAD/CAM) training Moat D+T (Textiles) support + training SJN D+T (Food Tech) support, planning and resource development St Paul's D+T (CAD/CAM) support and planning Babington D+T (Textiles) support on software issues English Martyrs D+T (Textiles) support on software issues For further information relating to how the CLCs can support the teachers and the delivery of the D+T curriculum please contact Richard Clarkson, Tony Gill or David Cluley at the City Learning Centres.