Tech Directions - March 2008 - (Page 20)

if you want to keep their dream going. Funding My program has a money machine: the Dimension 3D Printer from Stratasys. Cost? Less than $30,000, and worth every cent. The technical term for the process it uses is fused deposition modeling, or FDM, and the process is digital manufacturing. The equipment prints a ten-thousandth-inch stream of liquid ABS plastic just like the ink in an inkjet printer. The first thing I did to start making money was acquire a list of local industries from the Chamber of Commerce. Then, I composed a letter introducing my program and our new venture in rapid prototyping. I included a brochure about the machine, along with a pre-stamped and addressed 3 × 5 response card. The letters went out to 75 industries I thought could use rapid prototyping in their business, from a list of 245 just around my county. I got back half, which I am told is a good response. Half of those were interested. Then, a reporter and photographer from the local newspaper came by for an article. Were they just in the neighborhood? Of course not. I called my favorite person at the newspaper, who covers the local schools, and told her what we were doing. The newspaper photographer is also an old acquaintance. We got an article with a box on the right side headed “Learn More,” which included contact information. People started calling. The first job we did for an outside company was a little button that resets an electric water heater. We made 10 of them for $300. The company called me after seeing the article in the local paper. An engineer sent me an e-mail message with the .stl file attached. I called him back 30 minutes later to tell him that his parts were ready. The company was ecstatic because they had been sending out this work, a couple states away, were being charged thousands of dollars and having to wait six weeks for delivery. Sample CAD program promotional posters sophomores gathered in the auditorium to hear short speeches about each CTE offering. I had to compete with the digital media/broadcasting program and their glitzy professional video presentation. Try condensing everything you do into a two-minute speech that will capture sophomores’ attentions and give them something to remember about your program that makes it more memorable than any other program! In my case, it may have been mentioning “no homework.” Or “You get to listen to music while you draw.” The sophomores had already seen the posters and knew about the financial success angle. When they came in herds (actually, groups of about 25) to my room, I sat each one down at a computer with a CAD student. My students were prepped, practiced, and primed for this event. Each sophomore drew his or her initial in Autodesk Inventor, extruded and filleted the initial, embossed it, and cut a hole through it. We promised that it would be digitally manufactured into a key ring the sophomores could pick up later. We only had 20 minutes for each group. I said hardly anything—no hard sell. Then, I had our visitors sign a sheet on their way out so that we knew who to give the initials to. My ulterior motive in getting their names was so I could send a letter and brochure to parents explaining the program and introducing the concept of a career in CAD. Studies tell us that Mom is the biggest decision maker when it comes to her kid’s future. Does it matter if Mom knows about CAD? You bet. Finally, you have all these kids wanting to be a part of this fantastic program. But it is going to cost you 20 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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