Tech Directions - March 2008 - (Page 18)

call came saying Ty was hired. Says Ty, “I was still in school—a few weeks away from turning 18 and graduation, and I got my dream job.” On the Job at a Dream Job American Choppers lets viewers look over the shoulders of designers and machinists as they conceive and build one-of-a-kind chopper motorcycles and accessories. They make just about all the parts themselves using steel and aluminum and advanced manufacturing equipment. that I get to make new stuff every day. It’s awesome to know I’ve contributed to making these finished pieces that go to something so widely recognized as Orange County Choppers,” he adds. And his work has not gone unnoticed by his employers. Several months ago, Ty received an Employee of the Month award for his creative design of a primary cover (belt cover) for a specific bike. He says he also enjoyed making a solid primary plate (a part that connects and giving them the necessary skills to do so.” As part of his training, Ty received several industry certifications and learned Mastercam, a widely used CNC software program. “I didn’t really want to learn Mastercam that much in school,” Ty said, “but my instructor told me that it would be useful to me. He was right.” Mastercam features a photo of Ty and the owners of Orange County Choppers on one of its promotional posters. (See Editor’s Note below.) Career and Media Success Harris and one of his current students check out additional equipment in his lab. Ty’s plans for the future include getting his own Buell Firebolt (a sport bike with a Harley Davidson engine) and a Chevy Colorado crew cab that he will put his own handiwork on. “My friend had a Chevy Colorado, and I designed and made a part for the intake for him. He liked it. It’s all about personalization. That’s where the money is. That’s why I’m in the custom business.” Since the start of Orange County Choppers, Discovery Channel viewers have watched OCC grow from 3 employees to 60, fill its 30,000 sq. ft. shop with some of the world’s finest high-tech manufacturing equipment, and dramatically increase its production of commissioned custom choppers. OCC opened an additional 100,000 sq. ft. manufacturing facility in 2006, with a goal of boosting overall production to as many as 240 bikes. Now, thanks to some good training, Ty Kropp is right there in the middle of all the excitement. “To be able to work in a job you like is what it’s all about—you don’t want to hate what you do, you want to be able to be excited to go to work,” says Ty. “For me, I have the kind of job that on my way home, I’m thinking of more things to do. It doesn’t get much better than that.” Ty works in a large, busy machine shop where all the work demands are done according to specific deadlines and under the close scrutiny of OCC founder Paul Teutul, Sr., who, along with son Paul, Jr., is the driving creative force behind Orange County Choppers. The program is shot in this machining and fabrication reality environment, complete with a big mustached boss who sometimes explodes when work lags behind. To meet the demands of the American Choppers production schedule, Ty assists lead engineer Quinn in programming CNC mills and lathes and setting up the machines to cut the unique parts required to make the custom motorcycles. He still spends a good deal of his time working at a computer. But he’s all right with that because everything at OCC is so fast paced. “It’s pretty good here. Sometimes it gets very stressful with deadlines. You know, you got those big guys yelling at you that the stuff has to get out,” Ty says. “But I like the fact the motor to the transmission) for the same motorcycle. “It was a large piece of the bike that I got entrusted to make,” Ty says. Ty also likes making novelty pieces, like footboards. “It’s pretty awesome to be able to make things inhouse.” OCC lead engineer Quinn says of Ty, “From day one, Ty has been on the machines setting up, running, cleaning, doing whatever he needed to do. And he knows exactly what he’s doing, which is the big thing. When we brought in the CNC lathe, Ty had more experience on it than I did. Now if we need an exhaust tip or a flip tag or handgrip turned up on that lathe for a custom project, Ty is our go-to guy.” Value of Good Training Ty appreciates having a high school education that prepared him well for the world of work. The tech center, he says, “gives you the training needed to go right out into the field. It’s all geared towards having the students excel in the real world Editor’s Note: To receive a free poster featuring Ty Kropp on the job, along with OCC founder Paul Teutul, Sr., and Paul Teutul, Jr., send an e-mail message to tapdrillchart@mastercamedu.com. Offer valid while supplies last. 18 techdirections ◆ MARCH 2008

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Tech Directions - March 2008 Technically Speaking Contents Direct from Washington The News Report Technology’s Past Technology Today Mastering Computers HDTV—Understanding the New, Dealing with the Old Technical Studies Lead to Dream Career Fill and Fund Your CAD Classroom with These Exciting Strategies STEM Progress in Katrina’s Wake School Web Site of the Month Spring Spotlight More than Fun

Tech Directions - March 2008

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