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'Motion Control University'

The Center for Automation and Motion Control at Alexandria Technical College in Minnesota offers a hands-on curriculum of leading-edge technology.

From CAMC's 25-station lab/classroom (above), students can control equipment in surrounding labs from their PCs. Notes written b
From CAMC's 25-station lab/classroom (above), students can control equipment in surrounding labs from their PCs. Notes written b

Packagers may not have heard of its basketball team, the Norsemen, but when it comes to learning about motion control, the students of Alexandria Technical College, Alexandria, MN, have a lot on the ball.

Dr. Ken Ryan, who directs the Manufacturing Automation Research Lab at ATC’s Center for Automation & Motion Control (CAMC), wants to position the school on the leading edge of the technology curve. Jeff Elstad of Cybertrol, an automation integration firm, calls CAMC “one of the highest tech classrooms in the state, maybe even in the country. His students work on the most recent releases of software, and graduate having worked on the latest equipment.”

Ryan describes the curriculum as a well-balanced combination of mechanics, drafting, hydraulics, pneumatics, electronics, and automation: “We make every attempt to coordinate our classes so that common principles are presented in parallel.” CAMC consists of four subsegments: Fluid Power Technology (FPT), Machine Assembly Specialist (MAS), Manufacturing Engineering Technology (MET) and the Manufacturing Automation Research Laboratory (MARL). About 80 students are enrolled in the 2-year program at any one time.

MET advisor Rob Auel says the overall CAMC curriculum provides a 2:1 ratio of hands-on learning to theoretical lecture. The MET portion features a computer-integrated manufacturing (CIM) lab with a 100% hands-on environment including a servo robot, a nonservo robot and a material-handling conveyor. In short, it has a host computer overseeing other computers and controllers.

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