Guitar building encourages engineering interest
>>Print ViewPublication Date: 06/26/2009
Alicia Ridings
Mark French, an assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology, plays a guitar he made.
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High school students learned about manufacturing, tools, mechanics and technology this week ... through their love for music.
Purdue has offered two separate workshops this summer for those interested in making their own electric guitar.
The High School Guitar Workshop, which is open to any high school student entering 10th, 11th or 12th grade, started Tuesday. Students were introduced to several advanced manufacturing technologies used in the guitar-making process. These same technologies and processes are taught in the College of Technology.
“Building the guitar is why the students are here,” said Mark French, assistant professor of mechanical engineering technology. “The reason we brought them here was to get them involved and interested in technology and engineering.”
French said that as a nation we’re producing too few engineers, which is preventing us from advancing further, in terms of technology.
“Kids don’t think it’s an attractive career,” French said. “Why would they when so many times the sales pitch for engineering includes, ‘you have to take lots of math and science classes.’”
Kaitlin Brewer, a sophomore at McCutcheon High School, painted her guitar with her favorite video game character.
“It took a long time to sand it, to have more curves for the designs in the front and to carve it,” Brewer said.
In addition to sanders and saw planers to mold their guitars, students used the latest in advanced manufacturing equipment, such as a CNC laser cutter and CNC router.
“The cutter is generally used to cut metal,” said Brad Harriger, professor of mechanical engineering technology.
Harriger said the electronics would be put in the body by today and the guitar would be set up so the students can play it.