Sandvik Coromant Collaborates with Purdue University to Develop Engineering Laboratory

Sandvik Coromant (Fair Lawn, NJ) recently collaborated with Purdue University?s School of Engineering Education to supply innovative tooling solutions and services for the school's Ideas to Innovation (I2I) Learning Laboratory. The new, state-of-the-art lab, which doubles as a Haas Technical Education Center, will provide nearly 1,700 first-year engineering students annually with hands-on design experience.

The collaboration between Sandvik Coromant and Purdue's School of Engineering Education was established in mid 2008. The cutting tool manufacturer collaborated with faculty and staff, Haas Automation, Inc. and Quality Mill Supply, an Indiana-based industrial distributor, to tool the laboratory and develop curriculum-based training solutions.

"I2I is a collaborative, experiential learning environment that engages students by allowing them to develop and refine engineering skills for the real world," said Eric Holloway, Director of Instructional Labs, Purdue University. "Through our collaboration with Sandvik Coromant, students can become well versed in cutting tools and the solutions that will best enable them to take concept-level projects to the manufacturing stage."

The laboratory features seven studios (design, demonstration, prototyping, electronics, fabrication, artisan, and innovation) that help students identify design criteria before developing and planning solutions. At the completion of the planning stage, students can build, test and refine prototypes using a variety of state-of-the-art machine tools. The I2I Learning Laboratory also includes a 120-student classroom, as well as 3-D rapid prototyping printers and a Microsoft Surface interactive multi-touch table.

"Sandvik Coromant was eager to collaborate with Purdue University in the development of the I2I Learning Laboratory," said Mike Verkamp, Midwest Zone Manager, Sandvik Coromant. "Educating tomorrow's Engineering and Technology workforce in advanced metalcutting practices will serve as a critical function to growing our nation's manufacturing economy, and through this collaboration, we will be able to aid in the recruitment, education and development of nearly 1,700 engineers each year."

As part of its collaboration with Sandvik Coromant, Purdue University will receive on-going technical support in the machining labs, printed training aids such as the company's Metalcutting Technical Guide, tooling software and live in-class presentations from Sandvik Coromant Productivity Engineers. Engineering Education faculty and staff will also receive complimentary training at Sandvik Coromant's Metalcutting Technology Seminars.

www.coromant.sandvik.com/us