First AAMC derby car race serves as teaching moment

Pictured from left to right are Lenoir Community College President Dr. Rusty Hunt, students Darian Christensen of Jacksonville (kneeling), Emerita Webb of Beulaville (kneeling), standing, James Jarman of Deep Run, Andrew Bogan of Kinston, Joseph Ayers of Blounts Creek, Cole Matthews of Hookerton, Ben Johnson of Pink Hill, Collin Grady of Deep Run, Computer-Integrated Machining Program Chair Andrew Luppino, LCC Vice President of Workforce Development and Continuing Education Dr. John Paul Black, and student Adam Irsik of La Grange.

Lenoir Community College students from the Mechanical Engineering and Computer-Integrated Machining programs participated in the first Aerospace and Advanced Manufacturing Center (AAMC) Derby Car Race, an event they planned to have annually. 

Computer-Integrated Machining Program Chair Andrew Luppino said the students worked in teams of two to design and manufacture derby cars that met the rules of the race. Mechanical Engineering students designed the cars using Fusion 360, using the software to check the weight of the cars before production to make sure that they met the weight criteria.  Once the design was finalized, Computer-Integrated Machining students utilized their training in 3-axis and 5-axis CNC machining to build their team’s car.