{"id":18342,"date":"2024-07-29T10:48:19","date_gmt":"2024-07-29T14:48:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/?p=18342"},"modified":"2024-08-01T20:11:36","modified_gmt":"2024-08-02T00:11:36","slug":"veterans-from-craven-cc-win-gold-at-skillsusa-engineering-technology-design","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/2024\/07\/veterans-from-craven-cc-win-gold-at-skillsusa-engineering-technology-design.html","title":{"rendered":"Veterans from Craven CC Win Gold at SkillsUSA Engineering Technology &#8211; Design"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.skillsusa.org\/\">SkillsUSA<\/a> is the number one workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. Through a series of local, state and national competitions, the most highly skilled career and technical education students gathered at\u00a0 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.skillsusa.org\/events\/national-leadership-skills-conference\/\">SkillsUSA\u2019s National Leadership &amp; Skills Conference<\/a> in June.\u00a0 The event featured more than 6,000 state champions from across the United States competing head-to-head in 115 skilled and leadership competitions.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18354 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Skills-USA-Team-e1721921947503-615x547.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"615\" height=\"547\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Skills-USA-Team-e1721921947503-615x547.jpg 615w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Skills-USA-Team-e1721921947503-300x267.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Skills-USA-Team-e1721921947503-768x683.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Skills-USA-Team-e1721921947503-728x647.jpg 728w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Skills-USA-Team-e1721921947503.jpg 1501w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Representing North Carolina from <a href=\"https:\/\/cravencc.edu\/\">Craven Community College<\/a>, US Military Veterans (in white), David Starnes (Army), Spencer Higgs (Marine Corps), and Robert Duren (Marine Corps) competed in the Engineering Technology &#8211; Design category, achieving first place and receiving a Gold medal.<\/p>\n<p>The team is not new to technical competition or pressure.\u00a0 Last year Spenser achieved 1st place in North Carolina for Technical Drafting (an individual competition) and David was second. Craven Community College asked Spencer and David not to compete again in order to give other students a chance.<\/p>\n<div class=\"video-container\">\n<div class=\"entry-content-asset\"><iframe loading=\"lazy\" title=\"Computer Integrated Machining at Craven Community College\" width=\"1140\" height=\"641\" src=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/embed\/HaNFxJUdUeo?feature=oembed\" frameborder=\"0\" allow=\"accelerometer; autoplay; clipboard-write; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture; web-share\" referrerpolicy=\"strict-origin-when-cross-origin\" allowfullscreen><\/iframe><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<p>Under the direction of their Drafting instructor, Jeff Brown and advisor Ricky Meadows, Dean of Career Programs, David, Spencer and Robert selected Engineering Technology &#8211; Design.\u00a0 In just 9 weeks, they reviewed the rules, brainstormed, created designs, tested with occupational therapists, and developed multiple prototypes.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18346\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-2-615x270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"615\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-2-615x270.jpg 615w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-2-300x132.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-2-768x337.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-2-1536x675.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-2-2048x900.jpg 2048w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-2-728x320.jpg 728w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>Inspired by their fellow service men and women, the team designed and developed a one-hand gaming controller in SOLIDWORKS. I was fortunate to interview all three veterans about their design and experiences.<\/p>\n<p>My notes are from David Starnes (Army), Spencer Higgs (Marine Corps), and Robert Duren (Marine Corps):<\/p>\n<p>The initial idea for our project was to create a video game controller that could be used with one hand. As a group of veterans, we realized that most veterans are also gamers. Many of our brothers-in-arms had lost arms or hands during the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. There were no adequate products on the market to facilitate gaming with only one hand. We wanted to help give back some joy to our fellow veterans who had sacrificed more than most. The first step was to create a proof of concept, and solder new wires and buttons to and existing game controller board to see if our idea could work. Spencer built the first proof-of-concept, proving that we could use an existing video game controller circuit board to create custom button locations, but the controller was uncomfortable to use and hard to reach all the buttons.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18345 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-1-e1721922102347-554x615.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"554\" height=\"615\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-1-e1721922102347-554x615.jpg 554w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-1-e1721922102347-270x300.jpg 270w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-1-e1721922102347-768x853.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-1-e1721922102347-1384x1536.jpg 1384w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-1-e1721922102347-728x808.jpg 728w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-1-e1721922102347.jpg 1525w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 554px) 100vw, 554px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We used a pistol grip handle and modeling clay to get a basic idea for a comfortable handle and used a 3D scanner to import the shape into SOLIDWORKS. To make the handle ambidextrous we designed rotatable interlocking button cylinders that could be individually set to the users preferred position. We were using the basic handle model to design different controllers for three gaming consoles when I had the idea of a modular design. If you could attach the circuit board and power supply to the base, like a Craftsman impact driver, and separate button layouts at the top, then one handle could be used to control almost anything. We designed a cartridge to hold the circuit boards that could slide in and attach to the handle base and separate button configurations to attach at the top.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18349\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-5-593x615.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"593\" height=\"615\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-5-593x615.jpg 593w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-5-289x300.jpg 289w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-5-768x796.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-5-728x755.jpg 728w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-5.jpg 784w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 593px) 100vw, 593px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We had to measure and then create 3D models in SOLIDWORKS for each component of the controller to figure out the best layout and make sure everything fit together. By this time we were realizing the potential of our new product, so with the future in mind we created a slightly different design for the handle with the back removed, making injection molding possible and giving better access for wiring.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-18347 size-large\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-3-e1721922135437-615x297.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"615\" height=\"297\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-3-e1721922135437-615x297.jpg 615w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-3-e1721922135437-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-3-e1721922135437.jpg 701w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>We took our prototype to the Occupational Therapy team at<a href=\"https:\/\/www.carolinaeasthealth.com\/services\/carolinaeast-rehabilitation-hospital\/\"> Carolina East Rehabilitation Hospital<\/a> to get feedback from professionals who worked with disabled persons. The most important feedback we received from them was that it might be difficult for a person with one hand to manage the different attachments, so we started working on a docking system. We used the subtractive modeling feature in SOLIDWORKS to \u201csubtract\u201d the shape of the board cartridges and top controls from a dock that could be mounted to a desk or table, making one-handed use of all the attachments easy and comfortable.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18348\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-4-615x331.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"615\" height=\"331\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-4-615x331.jpg 615w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-4-300x162.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-4-768x414.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-4-728x392.jpg 728w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-4.jpg 828w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>I was truly impressed with the drawings and documentation the team shared. The team also created a carrying case for the game controller.<\/p>\n<p><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone size-large wp-image-18352\" src=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-8-615x270.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"615\" height=\"270\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-8-615x270.jpg 615w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-8-300x132.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-8-768x338.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-8-728x320.jpg 728w, https:\/\/blog-assets.solidworks.com\/uploads\/sites\/3\/Craven-CC-Veterans-Win-SkillsUSA-8.jpg 828w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 615px) 100vw, 615px\" \/><\/p>\n<p>David (Mechanical Engineering\/CAD major), Spencer (AAS CAD &amp; working on AAS in CAM), and Robert (CAM major) also have a\u00a0 US Patent pending.<\/p>\n<p>David stated, &#8220;SOLIDWORKS hands down is the one CAD tool that Spencer and I prefer. It is intuitive, most comfortable. We can do almost anything.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Although I scheduled a 1\/2 hour for the interview, over an hour flew by. I was so inspired by what these veterans have accomplished. I asked for some words of advice to others and how they have connected their experience in the military to their current education.<\/p>\n<p>From Robert, &#8220;I was working on aircraft in the military.\u00a0 Now I can work with my hands, learning about the manufacturing industry.&#8221;\u00a0 At Craven CC, Robert is in the <a href=\"https:\/\/cravencc.edu\/CIM\">CAM <\/a>program.<\/p>\n<p>From Spencer, &#8220;The Marine Corps allowed me to afford college, take a different career path.&#8221; With a degree in CAD and a future degree in Manufacturing, Spencer hopes to help disabled veterans in his community.<\/p>\n<p>From David, &#8220;As one who struggled with Attention-deficit\/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), go to a community college, Craven has given me a new challenge everyday.&#8221;<\/p>\n<p>Thank you David, Spencer and Robert for sharing with the SOLIDWORKS community.<\/p>\n<p><strong>For Veterans<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>SOLIDWORKS supports US and Canadian veterans by providing software, online training and community support through our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.solidworks.com\/product\/students\/solidworks-student-edition-veterans\">Military Veterans Program.<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Design well,\u00a0 Marie<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>SkillsUSA is the number one workforce development organization for students, empowering them to become skilled professionals, career-ready leaders and responsible community members. Through a series of local, state and national competitions, the most highly skilled career and technical education students<\/p>\n... <a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/2024\/07\/veterans-from-craven-cc-win-gold-at-skillsusa-engineering-technology-design.html\">Continued<\/a>","protected":false},"author":84,"featured_media":18353,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5499,1],"tags":[7567,3940,7545,5314,3931],"class_list":["post-18342","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-competitions","category-uncategorized","tag-craven-community-college","tag-design","tag-engineering-technology","tag-skillsusa","tag-solidworks"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18342","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/84"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=18342"}],"version-history":[{"count":19,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18342\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":18372,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/18342\/revisions\/18372"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/18353"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=18342"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=18342"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogs.solidworks.com\/teacher\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=18342"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}