2008 National SkillsUSA Precision Machining Bronze

June 2008, National SkillsUSA Precision Machining Contest, Washington State Contestant, Bronze Medal Winner

The 2008 national Bronze Medalist is Brian Harbeck, who completed a two-year precision machining course at Sno-Isle TECH Skills Center in Everett, WA, instructor Tom Clemans. Brian is a 2008 graduate from Snohomish High School in Snohomish, WA.

The precision machining contest is based on NIMS (National Institute for Metalworking Skills) standards for machining and manufacturing, and is a very rigorous contest. On Wednesday of conference week, the contestants take a two-hour written. They are then introduced to the contest site where they have a couple hours to become familiar with the machines that will be used in the contest. On Thursday, the contestants perform the hands-on portion of the contest. It is divided up into six major sections, each of which is allotted one hour and 20 minutes.

The major contest sections are:
Manual milling machine
Engine lathe (manual turning machine)
Precision surface grinder and drill press
Quality control, workpiece inspection
CNC (computer numerical control) mill programming
CNC lathe programming

In addition, the ability to communicate verbally using proper industry terminology is also evaluated during the competition.

For each section in which a machined part is made, points are awarded for each correct dimension. A part need not be completed in order to have one or more dimensions within the specified dimension tolerance. The allowed size tolerance for many of the dimensions is ± .005 (5/1000) inch. (A piece of normal printer paper is .004 inch thick, which means the allowed size variation of a "legal" part is very very tiny.)

Dozens of companies and individuals have donated time, machines, materials, and software for this contest. In addition, dozens of individuals have taken personal time off work and provided and paid for their own transportation and conference expenses in order to be contest judges.

EVERY PERSON AND COMPANY WHO MADE THIS CONFERENCE AND COMPETITION POSSIBLE DESERVES OUR MANY, MANY THANKS!!!

For more information on SkillsUSA, go to their website: http://www.skillsusa.org/