The "LIFT Prize in Robotic Blacksmithing” is a LIFT Education and Workforce Development Initiative in which high school and college students from around the country can participate, innovate and earn cash prizes. It provides the students with a more creative approach to learning, as well as an exciting way to stay engaged, particularly in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) curriculum. Phase one of the competition, in which students will program a machine to reshape clay, will run through the 2016-17 school year.
The competition will kick off at the Smartforce Student Summit, an IMTS program, which provides a fun and interactive environment to introduce exciting innovations in manufacturing technology and aligns with several of LIFT’s education and workforce development goals, including attracting students to and ensuring they have the foundational STEM skills for success in future manufacturing careers.
Robotic Blacksmithing incrementally re-shapes material to create components – instead of removing it, like Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machining or adding material, as in additive manufacturing. This new manufacturing method can produce higher quality parts in a more environmentally sustainable way than CNC or additive manufacturing.
Beginning Sept. 12, students are encouraged to register their teams and see complete rules and other information by visiting http://roboticblacksmithing.com. Phase one judging, by industry experts, teachers and other leaders, will be completed in April 2017, with winning teams announced by the end April.