Summer Flies for Gent Machine Summer Interns in CNC Machining
Comments Off on Summer Flies for Gent Machine Summer Interns in CNC MachiningWhen we were kids, summer days would stretch out into the sunsets. Days were spent playing
outside with neighborhood friends until the streetlights came on and the fireflies came out. The
lights of the fireflies blinked their notice that evening was indeed upon us once again. Another
day of summer in the books. Summer seemed to fly. School would let out, and all at once we
were back in class with new teachers and new things to learn.
This summer, Gent Machine was pleased to have four Cleveland State mechanical engineering
students willing to let their summers fly by in a hot and muggy machine shop as interns. This is
Gent’s third summer internship program. The program is a 10-week hands on experience
learning the ins and outs of practical machining. Students learn how blueprints actually convert
to precision machined parts, how tricky tolerances truly are at times for machinists and
machines, how skilled machinists troubleshoot, and that specific machines at Gent are used to
make different parts based on a variety of considerations. Interns learned practical applications
in quality and the machining areas of Davenports, Swiss CNCs, Hydromats, and Acmes. They
learned about secondary operations.
In addition to machining, two sessions are held with management. Both sessions address what
is learned on the shop floor. One session reviews job search skills, including networking skills
and resume builders. Heavy emphasis is placed on the skill necessary to communicate well
between engineers and machinists. Another session speaks to what is involved in running a
machine shop, quoting, and understanding materials. Management seeks information on what
the interns wished they could have done, but did not have the chance to experience.
The students aren’t the only ones to benefit from their experience at Gent. Employees at Gent
provide their expertise, learning to train and foster growth in themselves and their trainees.
They are passing on their wealth of knowledge to the next generation of engineers and
machinists. Having an internship program takes organization and attention to detail. Gent has
found this program very beneficial. The buy in of employees is essential. We all look forward to
three or four bright new faces every summer. The additional upside for the employer is that
several may become full time employees. As we wrap up another internship cohort with pizza
and certificates of completion, it is satisfying to know that these young engineers now
understand practical machining and machinists to a degree far more than their first day of
school at Gent Machine.
