Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology Partners with Suppliers to Enhance Training

A facility recently opened on a 146-acre campus adjacent to Florence-Darlington Technical College in Florence, SC, to provide the local industry with advanced machine tool training. The Southeastern Institute of Manufacturing and Technology (SiMT) offers engineering, CAD/CAM, rapid prototyping and 3D virtual reality services, as well as leading edge manufacturing workforce development and business process training. Housed within SiMT is the Advanced Manufacturing Center (AMC), which represents a state-of-the-art concept in machine tool systems training for the southeastern United States.

Here, SiMT has engaged in a partnership with various machine tool, software and consumables suppliers, including EMCO, a manufacturer of milling and turning machines, along with CNC supplier Siemens, to work with educational providers at the center to bring training closer to the job shops and end-user machining departments of local business enterprises. Under the leadership of Jack Roach, director at SiMT, this partnership has resulted in a highly advanced concept that achieves not only machine tool training for operators, but also a unique opportunity for product and production systems development.

Companies seeking to improve their manufacturing strategies, streamline their production or devise entirely new machining approaches can access the AMC for assistance in every phase of their operations.

Customized training is also done on-site at client facilities, while SiMT further offers consulting services for the development of new techniques aimed at improving a client's product quality, production efficiencies and overall profitability. The latter consulting services are also available to start-up companies in the area, along with the unique SiMT Manufacturing Incubator Center (MIC), where qualified start-up manufacturers are provided with various tools and even the intellectual property counseling needed to commercialize their ideas.

Of further benefit to start-ups, SiMT consulting personnel comprise a team of experienced professionals that works with clients to devise turnkey systems or processes for virtually all aspects of business operations. The team acts as a true resource for not only theoretical, but also for practical advice for companies seeking to improve or successfully begin a machine shop operation.

An array of machine tool and support technologies, comprising EDM, waterjet, multi-axis machining centers, CNC mill/ turn equipment, grinders and the latest versions of CAD/CAM design software and post-processing modules are offered at the center. Additionally, fully equipped and staffed training labs and classrooms with human-machine interface (HMI) stations enable both design and operations personnel the opportunity to learn the current programming and machine control protocols, using the operator panel simulators.

At the heart of the AMC is its 18,000 ft2 manufacturing arena, where the machine tools, finishing and inspection equipment, including coordinate measuring machines, enable operators to learn a variety of machining techniques, plus the programming and control skills necessary to run today's sophisticated CNC machine tools. It is in this area where the partnership with EMCO and Siemens is most evident. More than 20 EMCO machining centers with Siemens Sinumerik CNCs onboard are available for training and comparative machining strategy analysis by those companies looking to improve their throughput, time-to-first-part or even part handling techniques. In addition, 25 workstations for offline programming are on hand in the AMC, utilizing WinNC, a control-specific software developed by EMCO, to allow simultaneous training of various control systems. As a result, students or operators can learn the particulars of various control programs on the same Siemens simulator, making them flexible and productive employees when they enter or return to the shop environment.

SiMT is available for open enrollment by students, as well as contract access by companies, job shops and start-up enterprises.