My current plan is to get out there between 2:30 and 3:00 and hang out at the tent where the FAMU-FSU mechanical engineering (ASME) students will be set up.
Meet me there if you want to go on a tour as a group. I'd expect to head over to the tour around 3:00.
You can, of course, go on a tour at any time if you schedule does not match mine.
LOCATION:
Google Map Link
Zoom out and switch from satellite to map to see the location, which is just a few miles west of the TCC campus.
Showing posts with label Tours. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tours. Show all posts
Friday, October 11, 2013
Thursday, October 3, 2013
Public Open House at the Hopkins Power Plant
Sunday, October 13, from 1 to 5 pm
More details later, including directions, but I hope that my schedule will allow a group of our future engineers to go through a tour together and get more info than they usually provide.
This open house at the Hopkins power plant is a big deal, with lots of things going on that are suitable for children of all ages, but what should interest you is the opportunity to tour a large operating power plant that uses a new, highly efficient system for generating electricity from natural gas. Your homework assignment is to read Example 19.2 on page 318 of our physics textbook by Wolfson. If you aren't in physics yet, you can still read that page in one of the copies available in the Learning Commons. The city has a short description of this new facility on this web page, which includes a link to an article about the project.
The FAMU-FSU ASME students will be there with their robots and other display items. The fire department will have a truck there and might also demonstrate how they use the "jaws of life" to extract people from a wrecked car. Power company linemen will show how they work on power lines. There are usually lots of things going on. There also might be some folks from TAEVA with their homemade electric vehicles, since they were there two years ago as noted in this blog entry from 2011.
LOCATION:
Google Map Link
Zoom out and switch from satellite to map to see the location, which is just a few miles west of the TCC campus.
IMPORTANT:
The info from the City emphasizes that you cannot bring in large backpacks and that all purses and small backpacks or fanny packs will be searched at the gate. They do not mention banning cameras like they have in the past. They might have given up because of smart phones, but please be aware of the possibility that photography might be forbidden in certain areas of the plant.
REALLY IMPORTANT:
You need to wear real shoes (closed toes) to go on the tour. This is an operating industrial facility, not a tourist site.
You can read the City of Tallahassee press release about it by clicking on this link
Tuesday, February 14, 2012
Update about Mag Lab "tour"
Folks at the mag lab have confirmed that they will be doing the triple-point of water demo this year, so that (in the low temperature lab) will be my first stop, followed by the tesla coil across the hall, in case anyone gets there late and wants to catch up with us.
From there I plan to go to the "shrinking quarter" demo, which will be done every half hour. The best deal is to get there right around when he fires the capacitor so we can get up front when the crowd leaves and spend the wait looking at all of the pieces needed to get a 60 Tesla magnetic field for a few micro seconds.
Lots and lots of details about this LRC pulse are in an old 2008 blog article linked HERE.
My route after that is unpredictable, but will include the magnet winding lab and the machine shop, and probably the big NMR magnet and the electron microscope, before heading over to the CAPS facility on Levy.
TAEVA, the Tallahassee Area Electric Vehicle Association, will have home-built and commercial electric vehicles on display in front of the CAPS building.
From there I plan to go to the "shrinking quarter" demo, which will be done every half hour. The best deal is to get there right around when he fires the capacitor so we can get up front when the crowd leaves and spend the wait looking at all of the pieces needed to get a 60 Tesla magnetic field for a few micro seconds.
Lots and lots of details about this LRC pulse are in an old 2008 blog article linked HERE.
My route after that is unpredictable, but will include the magnet winding lab and the machine shop, and probably the big NMR magnet and the electron microscope, before heading over to the CAPS facility on Levy.
TAEVA, the Tallahassee Area Electric Vehicle Association, will have home-built and commercial electric vehicles on display in front of the CAPS building.
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Plan for the Mag Lab Open House
Saturday, February 18
As in the past, I plan to be at the Mag Lab Open House (link to announcement) to lead an informal tour of specific parts of the lab. I will go to areas of particular interest to students taking PHY2049, but others are welcome.
My usual plan is to start at the Mag Lab itself at 10:00 sharp and finish in the CAPS engineering labs in the afternoon, so I recommend parking in the large lot behind CAPS (off Levy, to the east of the Mag Lab) so you won't have far to walk at the end of the day.
A map and details from past years are in a blog entry from 2009. They did not do "crush a coin" or demo the triple point of water in 2011, so I hope those are back this year. If so, they will be our first stops.
As in the past, I plan to be at the Mag Lab Open House (link to announcement) to lead an informal tour of specific parts of the lab. I will go to areas of particular interest to students taking PHY2049, but others are welcome.
My usual plan is to start at the Mag Lab itself at 10:00 sharp and finish in the CAPS engineering labs in the afternoon, so I recommend parking in the large lot behind CAPS (off Levy, to the east of the Mag Lab) so you won't have far to walk at the end of the day.
A map and details from past years are in a blog entry from 2009. They did not do "crush a coin" or demo the triple point of water in 2011, so I hope those are back this year. If so, they will be our first stops.
Tuesday, September 27, 2011
Public Open House at Hopkins Power Plant
FSU isn't playing football, so this weekend is when they schedule things like the Flying Circus of Physics at FSU (Saturday from 10 am to 4 pm) and an open house at the Hopkins Power Plant (Sunday from 1 to 5 pm).
If you read this announcement you should notice that cameras are no longer allowed inside the power plant during the tour. You also need real shoes on your feet to go on the tour.
I learned about the power plant open house because I heard from TAEVA (Tallahassee Area Electric Vehicle Association) that they are going to have some electric vehicles on display there. That collection might include one or two that are "shade tree mechanic" conversions. The city also usually has their rescue people there showing how they cut you out of a car wreck along with other demos.
A map of the FSU Physics area and other info about the Flying Circus is available here. Some of the lab spaces include demos that we don't have the equipment to do at TCC, most available to play with "hands on".
If you read this announcement you should notice that cameras are no longer allowed inside the power plant during the tour. You also need real shoes on your feet to go on the tour.
I learned about the power plant open house because I heard from TAEVA (Tallahassee Area Electric Vehicle Association) that they are going to have some electric vehicles on display there. That collection might include one or two that are "shade tree mechanic" conversions. The city also usually has their rescue people there showing how they cut you out of a car wreck along with other demos.
A map of the FSU Physics area and other info about the Flying Circus is available here. Some of the lab spaces include demos that we don't have the equipment to do at TCC, most available to play with "hands on".
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Hopkins Plant Tour
The ASME professional chapter will be hosting a "Welcome Students Back Hopkins Plant Tour" on Sept 8 (Wednesday) in the early evening.
See the September 9, 2009 posting for directions from last year's trip.
I cannot attend because it conflicts with my evening PHY2048 class, but I highly encourage you to go on this combination tour, meet-and-greet (engineers and FSU engineering students), and feeding frenzy.
See the September 9, 2009 posting for directions from last year's trip.
I cannot attend because it conflicts with my evening PHY2048 class, but I highly encourage you to go on this combination tour, meet-and-greet (engineers and FSU engineering students), and feeding frenzy.
Wednesday, September 16, 2009
Hopkins Power Plant tour / ASME welcome party
From Ben Cowart for ASME student members, but I believe any TCC students interested in mechanical engineering are welcome to attend and get recruited. (Student memberships are cheap.)
Please contact Gillian if you plan to attend. They want an RSVP head count so they can plan for the right amount of food.
Detailed directions are in this article from 2008.
September 30, 2009
Topic: Tour of AB Hopkins Power Plant
Host: Triveni Singh, City of Tallahassee
Agenda
4:45 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Registration
5:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m. Introductions, Announcements, and Recognitions
5:30 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. Tour
6:30 p.m. - 7:15 p.m. Dinner and Q&A
7:15 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Clean-up
The Tallahassee Sections welcomes back the student members, with a tour of the Hopkins Plant and cookout. Students, please RSVP to your student Club Advisor NLT Monday, September 28th, so that we can get an approximate head count for buying food. Thank you in advance to Triveni Singh and the Hopkins Plant for hosting this “Welcome Back” Students Event.
The Plant is located about 5 miles west of Capital Circle SW on 1125 Geddie Road, between US 90 West (W. Tennessee) and HWY 20, Blountstown Highway.
Safety and Dress Code:
This is an operating power plant, please do not wear shorts or loose fitting shirts. Shoes must be closed toe preferably leather. If you have a hard hat and safety glasses, please bring them, as the plant has a limited number.
Please contact Gillian if you plan to attend. They want an RSVP head count so they can plan for the right amount of food.
Detailed directions are in this article from 2008.
Wednesday, September 9, 2009
Hopkins Power Plant - ASME tour and cookout
UPDATE (9/16):
The tour will be on Wed, 9/30.
Details will appear in a new posting.
- - - - - -
E-mail from the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) local section had the following information about the planned tour and cookout at the Hopkins power plant. I expect we will get final details in a week or so.
You should go on this tour even if you have seen the plant during one of the city's regular October open house events. They give a better, more detailed, tour to engineers -- plus you can talk to FAMU-FSU students, some from TCC!
Date and time:
Thursday, 9/24, from 5 - 7:30
Sadly, this conflicts with my night class so I can't be there except maybe at the end. I haven't seen the final result of the "repowering" project, but maybe I can see that if they have the public open house in October.
Other details:
I don't have them, but clearly they plan to tour the Hopkins power plant, which is quite convenient to campus (5 miles west of Capital Circle SW, between HWY 20 and US 90 on Geddie Road). You can see more detailed directions and a Google map by following this link to info about a previous tour, and you can read information about the dress code for the tour by following this link.
In past years they wanted RSVP information by the preceding Monday (meaning by 9/21) so they could get enough food. Stay tuned for more details.
The tour will be on Wed, 9/30.
Details will appear in a new posting.
- - - - - -
E-mail from the ASME (American Society of Mechanical Engineers) local section had the following information about the planned tour and cookout at the Hopkins power plant. I expect we will get final details in a week or so.
You should go on this tour even if you have seen the plant during one of the city's regular October open house events. They give a better, more detailed, tour to engineers -- plus you can talk to FAMU-FSU students, some from TCC!
Date and time:
Thursday, 9/24, from 5 - 7:30
Sadly, this conflicts with my night class so I can't be there except maybe at the end. I haven't seen the final result of the "repowering" project, but maybe I can see that if they have the public open house in October.
Other details:
I don't have them, but clearly they plan to tour the Hopkins power plant, which is quite convenient to campus (5 miles west of Capital Circle SW, between HWY 20 and US 90 on Geddie Road). You can see more detailed directions and a Google map by following this link to info about a previous tour, and you can read information about the dress code for the tour by following this link.
In past years they wanted RSVP information by the preceding Monday (meaning by 9/21) so they could get enough food. Stay tuned for more details.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
Mag Lab and CAPS Open House Saturday!
The annual Mag Lab Open House will be this Saturday, February 21, from 10 AM to 3 PM.
Two of the things you can see were highlighted in this blog last February: You will actually see a pulsed magnet that gets to about 60 T for a few milliseconds -- before it becomes tiny pieces of copper -- and the switch and capacitor needed to make it work.
CAPS, the Center for Advanced Power Systems, will be having an open house (with lots of hands-on activities) in conjunction with the Mag Lab activities. CAPS is across the street from the Mag Lab, adjacent to the large parking lot where most people will have to park.
Updated: My plan is to get there early (about 10 AM) and tour the Magnet Lab with whatever group of PHY2049 (and other) students shows up at that early hour. We can go over to CAPS after that. Meet me in the main lobby of the magnet lab.
Directions:
CAPS is in one of the two buildings marked with the "A" on this map.
View Larger Map
The Mag Lab is the building complex to the left. There is a new building (Materials Research) filling the empty field to the south of CAPS.
Two of the things you can see were highlighted in this blog last February: You will actually see a pulsed magnet that gets to about 60 T for a few milliseconds -- before it becomes tiny pieces of copper -- and the switch and capacitor needed to make it work.
CAPS, the Center for Advanced Power Systems, will be having an open house (with lots of hands-on activities) in conjunction with the Mag Lab activities. CAPS is across the street from the Mag Lab, adjacent to the large parking lot where most people will have to park.
Updated: My plan is to get there early (about 10 AM) and tour the Magnet Lab with whatever group of PHY2049 (and other) students shows up at that early hour. We can go over to CAPS after that. Meet me in the main lobby of the magnet lab.
Directions:
CAPS is in one of the two buildings marked with the "A" on this map.
View Larger Map
The Mag Lab is the building complex to the left. There is a new building (Materials Research) filling the empty field to the south of CAPS.
Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Tour of Florida DOT Structures Research Center
Plan ahead! Friday, October 10, at 2:45 pm.
We have scheduled a tour of the Florida Department of Transportation's Structures Research Center, which is located in Innovation Park at 2007 East Paul Dirac Dr. (See map info below.) It is kitty-corner across the street (south east) from the Mag Lab. Plan to leave TCC right after your class gets out so we can meet at the building by 2:45.
This will be a real treat for any Civil Engineers, but my student (who works there) says it should also interest electrical and mechanical engineers because of the instrumentation and equipment used to do the tests. This facility is used to "test to failure" (engineer-speak for "break") bridges. Example: take a 60' concrete beam that would normally be part of a bridge, and measure everything that happens as they break it. We can't actually witness one being broken (that happens this week), but we should be able to see the results and how it is done.
The easiest route from TCC zigzags from Pensacola to Mabry (turn at Goodwill) to Roberts Road (turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks) to the back entrance for Innovation Park (right at the top of the hill, just before TurboCor), then left around the circle to Pottsdamer Road. Parking is off of Pottsdamer and there is additional parking across the street and to the south.
View Larger Map
We have scheduled a tour of the Florida Department of Transportation's Structures Research Center, which is located in Innovation Park at 2007 East Paul Dirac Dr. (See map info below.) It is kitty-corner across the street (south east) from the Mag Lab. Plan to leave TCC right after your class gets out so we can meet at the building by 2:45.
This will be a real treat for any Civil Engineers, but my student (who works there) says it should also interest electrical and mechanical engineers because of the instrumentation and equipment used to do the tests. This facility is used to "test to failure" (engineer-speak for "break") bridges. Example: take a 60' concrete beam that would normally be part of a bridge, and measure everything that happens as they break it. We can't actually witness one being broken (that happens this week), but we should be able to see the results and how it is done.
- Example from their web site, showing I-75 bridge beam to be tested
- pdf of report about test of I-75 bridge beam
The easiest route from TCC zigzags from Pensacola to Mabry (turn at Goodwill) to Roberts Road (turn left immediately after crossing the railroad tracks) to the back entrance for Innovation Park (right at the top of the hill, just before TurboCor), then left around the circle to Pottsdamer Road. Parking is off of Pottsdamer and there is additional parking across the street and to the south.
- Follow this link to a Google Map of the area
View Larger Map
Friday, September 12, 2008
POWER PLANT TOUR & COOKOUT
REMINDER!!!!!
The Tallahassee Section ASME welcomes back the student members with a tour of the City of Tallahassee's Hopkins Plant, and cookout. Menu will be hot dogs, chips, drinks and cookies.
The Plant is located about 5 miles west of Capital Circle SW on 1125 Geddie Road, between Us 90 (West Tennessee Street) and HWY 20 (Blountstown Highway).
Date: Thursday, September 18th from 5:30 PM to 9 PM.
RSVP: Monday, 9/15/08 (to get an approximate head count for buying food)
STUDENTS - Please request RSVP by MONDAY 9/15 to your student Club Adviser:
(DOUG JONES ===> EMAIL: jonesd@tcc.fl.edu
Send me your name and your email address.
Subject line: HOPKINS TOUR )
Thank you in advance to Triveni Singh and the Hopkins Plant for hosting
this “Welcome Back” Students Event.
PS There is another post on this blog addressing the dress required to tour a power plant:
http://engineeringtcc.blogspot.com/2008/09/dress-code-for-power-plant-tour-thurs.html
[ The heart of this message is an email that I received from the TALLAHASSEE SECTION ASME which I modified to contain information specific to the TCC ENGINEERING CLUB. ]
-- DJ
The Tallahassee Section ASME welcomes back the student members with a tour of the City of Tallahassee's Hopkins Plant, and cookout. Menu will be hot dogs, chips, drinks and cookies.
The Plant is located about 5 miles west of Capital Circle SW on 1125 Geddie Road, between Us 90 (West Tennessee Street) and HWY 20 (Blountstown Highway).
Date: Thursday, September 18th from 5:30 PM to 9 PM.
RSVP: Monday, 9/15/08 (to get an approximate head count for buying food)
STUDENTS - Please request RSVP by MONDAY 9/15 to your student Club Adviser:
(DOUG JONES ===> EMAIL: jonesd@tcc.fl.edu
Send me your name and your email address.
Subject line: HOPKINS TOUR )
Thank you in advance to Triveni Singh and the Hopkins Plant for hosting
this “Welcome Back” Students Event.
PS There is another post on this blog addressing the dress required to tour a power plant:
http://engineeringtcc.blogspot.com/2008/09/dress-code-for-power-plant-tour-thurs.html
[ The heart of this message is an email that I received from the TALLAHASSEE SECTION ASME which I modified to contain information specific to the TCC ENGINEERING CLUB. ]
-- DJ
Tuesday, March 4, 2008
BUDWEISER / JACKSONVILLE TOUR
On Sat morning March 1, at 8:15am the TCC Ford 350 12-person van departed TCC for Budweiser in Jacksonville. Your driver was Doug Jones, and his “cargo” comprised 6 FAMU/FSU students and 2 TCC students.
We arrived at the Bud Brewery at 11:30 and caught the tour immediately – perfect timing. The formal tour ended at 12:25 in the “Hospitality Room” where persons over 21 enjoyed complementary beverages. Your Driver drank Root Beer! At this time we were joined by the plant’s environmental
engineer who spent about ½ hour describing some of the more technical aspects of the plant and answering our questions.
We lunched at a quaint establishment on Jacksonville’s famous Riverside and returned to Tallahassee, arriving at about 6:45pm.
I have only a few photos, as my camera’s battery ran low; however, I expect to receive more pictures from others on the tour. I post mine now and the others as I receive them.
DJ.
Friday, February 29, 2008
EMERGENCY NOTICE ...
TOUR OF BUDWEISER PLANT IN JACKSONVILLE, FL
SAT 03/01/2008
DEPART: 8AM
RETURN: SAT AFTERNOON/EVENING.
===============================
IF YOU HAVE SIGNED-UP TO GO (OR IF YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP, BUT YOU NOW WANT TO GO) ON THE JACKSONVILLE FIELD TRIP (BUDWEISER PLANT), PLEASE CONTACT DOUG JONES AT ONCE. I MUST GET THE NAMES SUBMITTED BY YESTERDAY AT 4:30 PM.... BUT NOBODY RESPONDED TO MY EMAIL.
EMAIL ME AT
jonesd@tcc.fl.edu
OR CALL ME AT 850-201-8120.
WE'LL LEAVE AT 8AM (REVISED TIME) FROM THE FACULTY PARKING LOT BEHIND (TO THE IMMEDIATE NORTH OF) THE SCIENCE & MATH BUILDING.
WE'LL TRAVEL IN THE TCC FORD 350 13-PERSON VAN.
AND WE'LL RETURN THE SAME DAY (SAT).
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP
SAT 03/01/2008
DEPART: 8AM
RETURN: SAT AFTERNOON/EVENING.
===============================
IF YOU HAVE SIGNED-UP TO GO (OR IF YOU DIDN'T SIGN UP, BUT YOU NOW WANT TO GO) ON THE JACKSONVILLE FIELD TRIP (BUDWEISER PLANT), PLEASE CONTACT DOUG JONES AT ONCE. I MUST GET THE NAMES SUBMITTED BY YESTERDAY AT 4:30 PM.... BUT NOBODY RESPONDED TO MY EMAIL.
EMAIL ME AT
jonesd@tcc.fl.edu
OR CALL ME AT 850-201-8120.
WE'LL LEAVE AT 8AM (REVISED TIME) FROM THE FACULTY PARKING LOT BEHIND (TO THE IMMEDIATE NORTH OF) THE SCIENCE & MATH BUILDING.
WE'LL TRAVEL IN THE TCC FORD 350 13-PERSON VAN.
AND WE'LL RETURN THE SAME DAY (SAT).
PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE CONTACT ME ASAP
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Friday (2/29) meeting and tour
There will be an Engineering Club meeting on Friday, 29 February. The meeting will be short so we can go on a tour of the the parking ramp under construction on our campus.
The meeting will be in SM260 as usual. We will leave for the tour about 3:30.
The meeting will be in SM260 as usual. We will leave for the tour about 3:30.
Saturday, February 16, 2008
VISIT THE ENGINEERING CLUB FORUM
Here is a link to the new forum for the club.
http://www.tccengineeringclub.com/forum/index.php
You will want to visit the forum often, as that is
where many interesting Engineering Club topics
will be reported, including Aaron's report on the
last meeting (02/15/08) and the status of all the
club's on-going activities.
DJ.
http://www.tccengineeringclub.com/forum/index.php
You will want to visit the forum often, as that is
where many interesting Engineering Club topics
will be reported, including Aaron's report on the
last meeting (02/15/08) and the status of all the
club's on-going activities.
DJ.
Monday, February 11, 2008
Letter from Susan Ray @ MagLab
Mr. Jones,
Just wanted to make sure the TCC Engineering Club is aware that the Mag Lab Open House is coming up – Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. I think this would be of great interest to the students. You can find out more here: http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/community/openhouse.html
In addition to the self-guided tour and demonstrations, there also will be talks this year, two by engineers.
I’d appreciate it greatly if you could forward this to Aaron so he can mention it at the upcoming club meeting. If any of the students is interested in volunteering, they can contact me directly.
Thanks!
Susan Ray
Associate Director, Public Affairs
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 644-9651
sray@magnet.fsu.edu
www.magnet.fsu.edu
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
Just wanted to make sure the TCC Engineering Club is aware that the Mag Lab Open House is coming up – Feb. 23 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. I think this would be of great interest to the students. You can find out more here: http://www.magnet.fsu.edu/education/community/openhouse.html
In addition to the self-guided tour and demonstrations, there also will be talks this year, two by engineers.
I’d appreciate it greatly if you could forward this to Aaron so he can mention it at the upcoming club meeting. If any of the students is interested in volunteering, they can contact me directly.
Thanks!
Susan Ray
Associate Director, Public Affairs
National High Magnetic Field Laboratory
1800 E. Paul Dirac Drive
Tallahassee, FL 32310
(850) 644-9651
sray@magnet.fsu.edu
www.magnet.fsu.edu
P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail
Friday, February 1, 2008
MESSAGE FROM AARON:
Hello Everyone,
Just wanted to send out a few items to everyone and let you know what's going on with the club:
Cart To Solar Project
We were sucessful in receiving our grant from the College Innovation Fund for $2500. Thank you everyone that showed up in helping write the grant proposal. It was a great success. Now it's time to work.
The P3 KillAWatt has come in, and I have been running some preliminary tests with the device as well as arranging a data collection method that we can coordinate with the Plant Operations department that will work good for all of us. The majority of carts do not have working hour meters so I am looking into either purchasing new ones or designing one using a LM555 timer. Anyone interested in a small electronics project, let me know...
As far as the solar panels go, I was going to have them ordered monday, but the person that is in control of the grant money won't be in until next week. On monday, I will be going in to make the initial order of solar panels. However, we do have a decision to make. Since PowerFilm is giving us a 40% discount on the panels, we have the option to possibly have 4 or 5 carts running around with panels. Is that something we are interested in?
We have also been authorized to have all the work on this project to be accredited through TCC's Volunteer Office. I will be giving everyone that participates in this project a TallyScript form where you can log the hours that you work on the project. If you can get at least 20 hours of volunteer service this semester, the volunteer office will have that documented on your transcript. This looks VERY GOOD and may help you in the future if volunteer services might be needed. With the cart project as well as other things we'll be doing, there is more than enough opportunity for all of us to get some volunteer service on our official college transcript.
CNC Training at TCC
With great thanks to Beth Mann Pace, the TCC EWD will begin offering CNC training. Check out the news release on TCC's web site:
http://www.tcc.fl.edu/about_tcc/news_events/news_archives/2008/january_2008/tcc_division_of_ewd_offers_cnc_machine_training
CNC's are amazing machines and are an integral part to the manufacturing industry. I used to program vector images of diesel engine mounting brackets that were converted for use on a CNC. Anyone interested needs to contact Ms. Pace as soon as possible.
Trail Work Volunteers
This weekend there is an epic trail works project going on at the Cadillac Trail on Lake Lafayette. I will be going out there to work on this major redesign project that is being coordinated by Trail Dynamics and the City of Tallahassee Parks Department. THis is something that we can take part in, and get volunteer hours that can go on our transcripts. I will be out there on Saturday afternoon as soon as I get out of the lab, and again on Sunday. Anyone interested, please call me at 850.251.9955 for more information.
Beer Anyone?
Just trying to get your attention. Quinn Straub, the Chair of the FAMU/FSU ASME Club has extended the opportunity for us to join them in a trip on March 1 to tour the Budweiser Plant in Jacksonville. There is also planning for a possible nuclear power plant in the works. Keep it in mind. We'll talk about it more at the next meeting.
New Web Site!!!
Thank you Michael. The Site looks great! When you get a chance, check oiut the new design of the club's web site: http://www.tccengineeringclub.com
This new site will definitely help us communicate a lot better. Michael has done a great job on creating an integrated forum and is now working on getting the blog up and going. This is great. While you're visiting the site, make sure to register for the forum and post your energy questions for the Town Hall Meeting. 19 days until the meeting and we need a lot more questions.
I am sure that there are some other exciting things that I am missing. There are a few other items that are in the works right now and I will inform all of you as to the details as soon as they come available. Please email me with any suggestions/ concerns that you may have about the club. bauld9a5@mymail.tcc.fl.edu
Thank you for you time and support,
Aaron Bauldree
TCC Engineering Club Chair
850.251.9955
Just wanted to send out a few items to everyone and let you know what's going on with the club:
Cart To Solar Project
We were sucessful in receiving our grant from the College Innovation Fund for $2500. Thank you everyone that showed up in helping write the grant proposal. It was a great success. Now it's time to work.
The P3 KillAWatt has come in, and I have been running some preliminary tests with the device as well as arranging a data collection method that we can coordinate with the Plant Operations department that will work good for all of us. The majority of carts do not have working hour meters so I am looking into either purchasing new ones or designing one using a LM555 timer. Anyone interested in a small electronics project, let me know...
As far as the solar panels go, I was going to have them ordered monday, but the person that is in control of the grant money won't be in until next week. On monday, I will be going in to make the initial order of solar panels. However, we do have a decision to make. Since PowerFilm is giving us a 40% discount on the panels, we have the option to possibly have 4 or 5 carts running around with panels. Is that something we are interested in?
We have also been authorized to have all the work on this project to be accredited through TCC's Volunteer Office. I will be giving everyone that participates in this project a TallyScript form where you can log the hours that you work on the project. If you can get at least 20 hours of volunteer service this semester, the volunteer office will have that documented on your transcript. This looks VERY GOOD and may help you in the future if volunteer services might be needed. With the cart project as well as other things we'll be doing, there is more than enough opportunity for all of us to get some volunteer service on our official college transcript.
CNC Training at TCC
With great thanks to Beth Mann Pace, the TCC EWD will begin offering CNC training. Check out the news release on TCC's web site:
http://www.tcc.fl.edu/about_tcc/news_events/news_archives/2008/january_2008/tcc_division_of_ewd_offers_cnc_machine_training
CNC's are amazing machines and are an integral part to the manufacturing industry. I used to program vector images of diesel engine mounting brackets that were converted for use on a CNC. Anyone interested needs to contact Ms. Pace as soon as possible.
Trail Work Volunteers
This weekend there is an epic trail works project going on at the Cadillac Trail on Lake Lafayette. I will be going out there to work on this major redesign project that is being coordinated by Trail Dynamics and the City of Tallahassee Parks Department. THis is something that we can take part in, and get volunteer hours that can go on our transcripts. I will be out there on Saturday afternoon as soon as I get out of the lab, and again on Sunday. Anyone interested, please call me at 850.251.9955 for more information.
Beer Anyone?
Just trying to get your attention. Quinn Straub, the Chair of the FAMU/FSU ASME Club has extended the opportunity for us to join them in a trip on March 1 to tour the Budweiser Plant in Jacksonville. There is also planning for a possible nuclear power plant in the works. Keep it in mind. We'll talk about it more at the next meeting.
New Web Site!!!
Thank you Michael. The Site looks great! When you get a chance, check oiut the new design of the club's web site: http://www.tccengineeringclub.com
This new site will definitely help us communicate a lot better. Michael has done a great job on creating an integrated forum and is now working on getting the blog up and going. This is great. While you're visiting the site, make sure to register for the forum and post your energy questions for the Town Hall Meeting. 19 days until the meeting and we need a lot more questions.
I am sure that there are some other exciting things that I am missing. There are a few other items that are in the works right now and I will inform all of you as to the details as soon as they come available. Please email me with any suggestions/ concerns that you may have about the club. bauld9a5@mymail.tcc.fl.edu
Thank you for you time and support,
Aaron Bauldree
TCC Engineering Club Chair
850.251.9955
Thursday, December 20, 2007
Tour of New Parking Ramp
I've been a bit slow getting this posted. Members of the Engineering Club toured the new parking ramp after our last meeting on December 7. (Some others from my morning class who could not make the meeting had a shorter tour at 10 AM.) Special thanks to Larry Cliett from the TCC facilities office for giving his time for both tours, and a very special thanks to Jim Folds of Culpeppper Construction who stayed long after the construction work shut down to keep the site open and share lots of interesting information about the work.
Here we see Jim Folds (in the suit) with the afternoon tour group. One tidbit from the tour was that Jim is a dropout from the FSU College of Engineering. He left partway through and is now a project manager. (My opinion, having seen some good and bad projects while working as a surveyor during my college days, is that he is a very good project manager.)
He pointed out lots of details about this construction method and the logistics of it all. The pre-fab concrete pieces are being made in Georgia, near Atlanta, and trucked to Tallahassee. About 20 pieces arrive each day when they are going full speed, ready to be installed the next day after temporary storage off the road to the new North Lot.
One of the ways they are making money and saving TCC money at the same time (we basically are getting a 5 story ramp for the price of 4) is by using thinner pre-fab floor beams and adding the rest of the concrete and reinforcing steel on site. It also helps that construction is in a slump and they got lots of good (low) bids. You can see the construction details very clearly in this view.
And here is the view from the top. The ramp offers a great view of the State Capitol in the distance.
The latest news is that the upper deck will be covered with solar panels that will generate about 750 kW of power while shading the cars on the top level.
I have a lot more pictures from that tour and some earlier ones during the early phases of the project that I will try to organize here next semester.
Here we see Jim Folds (in the suit) with the afternoon tour group. One tidbit from the tour was that Jim is a dropout from the FSU College of Engineering. He left partway through and is now a project manager. (My opinion, having seen some good and bad projects while working as a surveyor during my college days, is that he is a very good project manager.)
He pointed out lots of details about this construction method and the logistics of it all. The pre-fab concrete pieces are being made in Georgia, near Atlanta, and trucked to Tallahassee. About 20 pieces arrive each day when they are going full speed, ready to be installed the next day after temporary storage off the road to the new North Lot.
One of the ways they are making money and saving TCC money at the same time (we basically are getting a 5 story ramp for the price of 4) is by using thinner pre-fab floor beams and adding the rest of the concrete and reinforcing steel on site. It also helps that construction is in a slump and they got lots of good (low) bids. You can see the construction details very clearly in this view.
And here is the view from the top. The ramp offers a great view of the State Capitol in the distance.
The latest news is that the upper deck will be covered with solar panels that will generate about 750 kW of power while shading the cars on the top level.
I have a lot more pictures from that tour and some earlier ones during the early phases of the project that I will try to organize here next semester.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Surveyor Tracks
During college, I worked summers as a "rodman", the third (and least skilled) member of a survey crew in the pre-technology era. [Actually, our company did have one electronic distance measuring system, which was as bulky and heavy as it was expensive. I was on one of the few crews that used it, but that is a different story.] Most of our work was construction surveys, mixed in with some pre-design and residential work. As a result, I can "see" plans on the ground when I see the stakes set out by surveyors, the "tracks" that allow you to follow their work.
Back in March, we toured some of the places related to the construction of the new parking ramp, including the apparent locations of the corners of the building. Construction of the storm sewer, a necessary step before above-ground work can begin, is underway and you can see what is used to do that work in the area west of TPP. You might also check out the almost-complete parking lot NW of the SM building, the survey markers related to the pedestrian bridge that should be built in the next few weeks, and the work starting today on the connection to the electrical system (from TPP to the garage).
The first picture shows a collection of "surveyor tracks" laid out in mid July. The picture was taken between the faculty and student lots to the west of TPP, looking south. The same area is shown in the last picture posted in the March blog, which was taken from the health programs entrance looking west. (Click the photos to see them full size.)
The stake labeled "corner?" is the one that was there when we visited in March. It is no longer there, making me wonder if the stake labeled "new?" is where the corner of the building will actually be located. Time will tell.
The others are all related to the new sanitary sewer being installed across the student parking lot during July. That work was done on a line running south from MH140 (manhole number 140) through the tree in the distance marked "alignment". MH150 is just past that tree (which is no longer there as I write this), with new pipe extending south to a point opposite the Student Union. That tree is in the background of the third picture in the March blog, showing the south side of the building. MH150 is just to the SE of the future SE corner of the building (just as MH140 is to the NE of the NE corner). More on MH130 in the third photo.
This second picture is a closeup of two of the stakes in that area. The tall stake with flagging on it is normally a "guard" to help you locate the actual stake and to give you information about the location. The actual location is marked by the rectangular wooden stake (we called it a "hub") at ground level.
The stake in the right half of this photo is the one you see in the previous photo above. The writing translates as centerline (C/L) of sanitary sewer manhole (SSMH) 140. Some writing is crossed out because either the rodman or crew chief made a mistake that was caught later. The stake on the left is an offset (O/S) stake. It is located 30' from the center of the manhole, and the hub has a known elevation (64.31 feet above sea level). There is also a 15' o/s stake. These are used by the contractor to locate the manhole (and its depth) once the centerline stake has been dug up during construction.
Remark added: The notation used is that a sanitary sewer is SSMH, while a storm sewer is SMH. You have to pay attention. The difference between what is flowing inside them is significant.
This last picture is a view looking west from this same location. You can see that MH130 is off at a diagonal from MH140.
In the distance is MH 120, indicating that the pipe will run along the north edge of the parking ramp toward the small holding pond in the background. There is a stake indicating that MH110 will be right at the edge of the pond. (Later work will expand this pond to bring our stormwater system up to current standards and make up for the part taken up by the new building.)
Update added on 10 August: Talked to the contractor today, and he told me that SSMH110 is where this new sanitary sewer line will intercept the existing sewer line. (That area has now been dug up, and pictures of that area will be blogged separately.) The current sewer line flows along the road, under where the building will be. That would interfere with the foundation, so they are diverting it around the east end of the building.
Final note: The numbers for the manholes go up in steps of 10 so that others could be added in between without having to mess up the sequence or renumber all of them. Our practice (at a company in Michigan) was to number them uphill, but they did the opposite in this case. Pipe is laid working uphill, which is what they did here (starting at the outlet end of the detour, west of the union, and working up towards the intercept point by the stormwater pond).
Back in March, we toured some of the places related to the construction of the new parking ramp, including the apparent locations of the corners of the building. Construction of the storm sewer, a necessary step before above-ground work can begin, is underway and you can see what is used to do that work in the area west of TPP. You might also check out the almost-complete parking lot NW of the SM building, the survey markers related to the pedestrian bridge that should be built in the next few weeks, and the work starting today on the connection to the electrical system (from TPP to the garage).
The first picture shows a collection of "surveyor tracks" laid out in mid July. The picture was taken between the faculty and student lots to the west of TPP, looking south. The same area is shown in the last picture posted in the March blog, which was taken from the health programs entrance looking west. (Click the photos to see them full size.)
The stake labeled "corner?" is the one that was there when we visited in March. It is no longer there, making me wonder if the stake labeled "new?" is where the corner of the building will actually be located. Time will tell.
The others are all related to the new sanitary sewer being installed across the student parking lot during July. That work was done on a line running south from MH140 (manhole number 140) through the tree in the distance marked "alignment". MH150 is just past that tree (which is no longer there as I write this), with new pipe extending south to a point opposite the Student Union. That tree is in the background of the third picture in the March blog, showing the south side of the building. MH150 is just to the SE of the future SE corner of the building (just as MH140 is to the NE of the NE corner). More on MH130 in the third photo.This second picture is a closeup of two of the stakes in that area. The tall stake with flagging on it is normally a "guard" to help you locate the actual stake and to give you information about the location. The actual location is marked by the rectangular wooden stake (we called it a "hub") at ground level.
The stake in the right half of this photo is the one you see in the previous photo above. The writing translates as centerline (C/L) of sanitary sewer manhole (SSMH) 140. Some writing is crossed out because either the rodman or crew chief made a mistake that was caught later. The stake on the left is an offset (O/S) stake. It is located 30' from the center of the manhole, and the hub has a known elevation (64.31 feet above sea level). There is also a 15' o/s stake. These are used by the contractor to locate the manhole (and its depth) once the centerline stake has been dug up during construction.
Remark added: The notation used is that a sanitary sewer is SSMH, while a storm sewer is SMH. You have to pay attention. The difference between what is flowing inside them is significant.
This last picture is a view looking west from this same location. You can see that MH130 is off at a diagonal from MH140.
In the distance is MH 120, indicating that the pipe will run along the north edge of the parking ramp toward the small holding pond in the background. There is a stake indicating that MH110 will be right at the edge of the pond. (Later work will expand this pond to bring our stormwater system up to current standards and make up for the part taken up by the new building.)Update added on 10 August: Talked to the contractor today, and he told me that SSMH110 is where this new sanitary sewer line will intercept the existing sewer line. (That area has now been dug up, and pictures of that area will be blogged separately.) The current sewer line flows along the road, under where the building will be. That would interfere with the foundation, so they are diverting it around the east end of the building.
Final note: The numbers for the manholes go up in steps of 10 so that others could be added in between without having to mess up the sequence or renumber all of them. Our practice (at a company in Michigan) was to number them uphill, but they did the opposite in this case. Pipe is laid working uphill, which is what they did here (starting at the outlet end of the detour, west of the union, and working up towards the intercept point by the stormwater pond).
Thursday, July 26, 2007
REPORT ON TURBOCOR TOUR of FRI 7/13/07
Chris Loftis took the tour, and he sent me the following report --
For the first half of the tour, we were herded into a classroom and basically given the sales spiel about these compressors. They started out stating the lofty goals they had when starting to design it, and what they actually managed to reach. Despite them not having not made a compressor that can put out 150 tons, is as large as a matchbox and weighs less than a pound, the result is still quite impressive. Of course, the main innovation of the compressor are the magnetic bearings. This gives it the advantage of not needing lubrication because the shaft is the only moving part and it doesn't come into contact with anything. Comparing it to comparable compressors, it's also smaller, quieter and more efficient at partial loads than the other ones out there. Pretty much the only disadvantage seemed to be that they couldn't make them fast enough.
We went out to the manufacturing floor for the second part of the tour. Most all of the parts are machined elsewhere so there wasn't much actual manufacturing being done. It seemed like the only parts done there were the high precision ones needed because of the incredibly small clearance between the levitated shaft and the walls. The vast majority of the plant was devoted to the testing and running of the machines. They certainly have a great track record so far, only having had three units fail in operation so far.
After coming back to the classroom, they were showing off all the units they had on display. The most impressive of them was the working unit with a cross section taken out of it so you could touch the shaft. With the levitation on the shaft impossible to move in any direction but angularly, showing how the control systems can keep the shaft centered despite having someone pushing on it.
All in all, it was nice to have a more hands on look at this new technology.
For the first half of the tour, we were herded into a classroom and basically given the sales spiel about these compressors. They started out stating the lofty goals they had when starting to design it, and what they actually managed to reach. Despite them not having not made a compressor that can put out 150 tons, is as large as a matchbox and weighs less than a pound, the result is still quite impressive. Of course, the main innovation of the compressor are the magnetic bearings. This gives it the advantage of not needing lubrication because the shaft is the only moving part and it doesn't come into contact with anything. Comparing it to comparable compressors, it's also smaller, quieter and more efficient at partial loads than the other ones out there. Pretty much the only disadvantage seemed to be that they couldn't make them fast enough.
We went out to the manufacturing floor for the second part of the tour. Most all of the parts are machined elsewhere so there wasn't much actual manufacturing being done. It seemed like the only parts done there were the high precision ones needed because of the incredibly small clearance between the levitated shaft and the walls. The vast majority of the plant was devoted to the testing and running of the machines. They certainly have a great track record so far, only having had three units fail in operation so far.
After coming back to the classroom, they were showing off all the units they had on display. The most impressive of them was the working unit with a cross section taken out of it so you could touch the shaft. With the levitation on the shaft impossible to move in any direction but angularly, showing how the control systems can keep the shaft centered despite having someone pushing on it.
All in all, it was nice to have a more hands on look at this new technology.
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