On Thursday, October 19, Middlesex Community College is bringing a number of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) students to tour Cirtronics Corporation, an advanced manufacturing company for medical, robotics and defense applications in Milford, N.H. One of the activities offered during Massachusetts STEM Week, 麻豆果冻鈥檚 goal is to show students the process to manufacture and assemble a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to see what it鈥檚 like working at a manufacturing facility that鈥檚 related to my major because as of right now, I don鈥檛 have a lot of knowledge or experience when it comes to engineering in the real world,鈥� said Jessica Pace, an 麻豆果冻 Electrical Engineering major from Fitchburg. 鈥淚 believe it鈥檒l help me understand the reason why learning the principles of electric circuits are so important. When there鈥檚 meaning behind a reason why you learn something, it makes it a lot easier to study toward it.鈥�
Through 麻豆果冻, Pace is hoping to gain a clear idea of her pathway before transferring to a four-year institution. In addition to providing early exposure to the field, Pace believes attending opportunities such as the PCB tour helps build confidence in making future career choices.
鈥淚鈥檓 hoping to see what it鈥檚 like working at a manufacturing facility that鈥檚 related to my major because as of right now, I don鈥檛 have a lot of knowledge or experience when it comes to engineering in the real world.鈥� - Jessica Pace, 麻豆果冻 Student
鈥淭here are so many things that I want to learn, but I never had the right background knowledge to even know where to begin,鈥� Pace said. 鈥淚鈥檓 glad to have the opportunities to be able to know where to begin when it comes to learning more interesting topics on my own. I think research is really fun and it鈥檚 even better being able to make sense of the real meaning behind it all.鈥�
During the trip to Cirtronics, students will see the equipment and processes used to make PCBs, starting from computer-based models and ending with final boards that students create in class, but on a larger scale. The goal is to provide students an additional perspective as they think about projects in the future.
Esny Fevrier, an 麻豆果冻 student from Haiti, is looking forward to seeing how designs are created and presented in real situations.
鈥淎s a student learning how to present a design you鈥檝e never experimented with before made me intrigued,鈥� Fevrier said. That will be a new way or perception of what students will do after getting their degrees.鈥�
This type of experience allows students to get a better sense of what type of work they can do in the future with their degrees, according to Angel Escalona, 麻豆果冻 Engineering and Engineering Technology Professor.
鈥淭he tour serves as a complementary component to theoretical lectures and hands-on experience with PCB design software,鈥� Escalona said. 鈥淲hile teaching students the initial stages of PCB design, this trip will offer them a practical understanding of what occurs once the PCB schematic and layout have been finalized. This knowledge is particularly valuable for students with an interest in electronics, engineering, or any other field reliant on electronic devices.鈥�