Engineering News, October 17, 2005

October 17, 2005 Vol. 77, no. 8F

FORGED IN FIRE: Engineering Science senior Austin Minnich learns to cut metal with an oxy-acetylene torch. (Photo Credit: Rachel Jackson)

Sparks fly and steel melts as engineers learn fiery new skills in EJC workshop

Apparently he had the right flare because Engineering Science senior Austin Minnich lit the torch on his first try. It roared to life in a bright swath. He adjusted the knobs that controlled how much oxygen and acetylene flowed from large tanks behind him. Carefully, he brought the flame within an inch of scrap metal lying on the table. He held it there. A line of steel melted away. Sparks flew, and Minnich made his first cut.

In days not so long ago, engineers completed projects by swinging hammers, cutting metal, and forging pieces of raw material together. They sweated, but not figuratively, over problem sets. Engineering today is more brain and less brawn, but a group of 24 Berkeley engineers recently stretched their muscles and their minds during a day-long workshop at The Crucible in West Oakland. In small groups, students were taught to torch-cut metal, weld, blacksmith, and shape molten glass using fiery tools and techniques. The workshop was the first in a series that will teach hands-on engineering skills. Future workshops may cover automotive mechanics, soldering, robotics, and/or computer skills like networking, Linux, or designing web pages. The series is sponsored by the Engineers’ Joint Council and the College.

“The goal is to supplement our curriculum with hands-on skills that are often associated with engineering,” said MSE graduate student Matt Lowry, who first thought of the workshop idea and brought it to fruition. “Just having this practical experience is valuable, plus it’s fun.”

Minnich agreed. After he finished a long cut, he shared his experience. “It was fun,” he said, taking off dark, protective glasses. “It wasn’t hard. You just had to make sure you turned the right knobs because there are a lot of knobs on the torch. Once the metal melted away, you could easily see where to cut.” Later on, Minnich displayed three metal letters; he’d cut out the initials of his name.

In the smithy, the forge threw out concentrated heat as engineers hammered out metal hooks on their anvils. At the welding station, students made primitive-looking metal sculptures. One even accidentally welded his to the table. In the glasswork area, students slowly twirled blobs of molten glass in hopes of making a round marble. It was harder than it looked, and one woman switched to making a snowman instead.

Back in the torch-cutting area, Engineering Undeclared freshman Doug Chain completed his first cut. “It was pretty cool seeing the metal melt away,” he says. “I’m not a real engineer yet, but I’m getting there.”

A repeat of October’s workshop will be held at The Crucible on November 5. If you’re interested in this workshop or future ones, email ejc.workshop@gmail.com.

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