After all, as manager of Mohawk’s Additive Manufacturing Resource Centre (AMRC), Coulson spends more time creating the future than replicating the past, working with manufacturing and aerospace companies that are interested in using 3D printing technology on an industrial scale.

So he was caught off guard when he got a call from a local car collector about a vintage car located in New Zealand.

The ask? Help reproduce rare headlight stanchions for the restoration of a 1923 Rolls-Royce. The stand-alone replacement parts were proving to be impossible to find, but a perfect match for the headlight stanchions happened to be attached to another vintage Rolls-Royce, this one in Ontario- and fortunately located right around the corner from Mohawk College.

So, the collector asked, can Mohawk help produce 3D scans of the Ontario-based part that can then be used to create the replicas in New Zealand?

The answer was yes.

For Coulson, it was the perfect job to help the AMRC’s co-op students understand a common challenge in additive manufacturing: how to reverse engineer an existing part using 3D scanning and then manufacture it using 3D printing. Mechanical Engineering student Stephanie Childs spent two weeks scanning the headlight stanchions using the Engineering Technology’s FaroArm. This generated a surface model via 3D line scanning to create a CAD model that would accurately reproduce a part manufactured 93 years ago.

Once Mohawk’s role was complete, the 3D model was sent to New Zealand, where a more geographically convenient 3D printer produced the plastic parts. The final stage was the creation of a pattern from the plastic parts that was used to create the brass replicas.

The result?

A perfect 20^th century car part that could only have been produced in the 21^st century.

The following is an excerpt from the Rolls-Royce Owner Club, Inc, USA (RROC) February newsletter, that tells the story of the car restoration:

“Clive explained he was in the process of continuing a long-stalled restoration of a 1923 Rolls-Royce 20 HP, chassis GF3, a car with a long history in Australia. Apart for more than 20 years it had made its way from Australia to New Zealand in a container, so as you might expect between being disassembled for a generation and having been moved numerous times, a few pieces had gone missing.

Among the parts Clive needed were a set of headlight stanchions. He reached out to other members of the RROC to see if they might happen to have a spare set. Now, to be honest, there are probably not a lot of headlight stanchion hoarders in the Club, and it is not the kind of part that the factory was likely to have produced for inventory. You just do not get a lot of demand for headlight stanchions. But Clive asked, and Peter, a member from Ontario, Canada contacted Clive and sent photos of the ones from his car. They were off the car and could easily be photographed from virtually every angle. But that was not all! Once they realized these were the right parts, Peter reached out to a local community college that was able to produce 3D scans, which he then sent to Clive.

Armed with the photos and the 3D scan, Clive set out to find someone with a 3D printer to produce the parts in resin, which could then be used to produce a pattern from which brass stanchions could be cast. All of this was new both to Peter in Canada and Clive in New Zealand (and me in Mechanicsburg). But, armed with the scans, Clive found a company with a 3D printer who quoted him about $300 to make the two plastic stanchions. A bit put off by that quote, he did a bit more research on the web and found a Dutch organization named "3D Hub" whose stated objective was to have a member with a 3D printer within 50 miles of every customer around the world! It turned out that there was a member located less than a mile from Clive who had a 3D printer in his spare bedroom and agreed to produce the two plastic stanchions for approximately $50!

Tell me that we are not living in amazing times! Can you imagine a man living in New Zealand restoring a 100 year old car, built in England, operated in Australia, with the help of a fellow RROC member in Canada, using technology supported by an organization in Holland? I guess that is just one more reason to join a car club.”

About the Author: Andrea Johnson is the Promotions and Industry Liaison Officer for iDeaWORKS.

Follow iDeaWORKS on Twitter @mohawkideaworks

The Expo is an opportunity to learn about the great opportunities students have to collaborate with faculty research pros and local industry entrepreneurs. 

Capping off the event will be a keynote address by Polar Mobile CEO, Kunal Gupta who, in just a few short years, has built a student business into one whose work now sits in the pockets of millions of mobile app users. Immediately following the keynote, which starts at 4 p.m., there will be a Mobile Technology Panel Discussion moderated by Matt Hartley, editor of the Financial Post Tech Desk.

Motech Expo

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Fennell Campus, H-Wing
1-4 p.m.: Exhibit Open
4-5 p.m.: Keynote
5 p.m. Mobile Technology Panel 

For more info:http://www.mohawkcollege.ca/ideaworks/news/motech-expo.html

Mohawk College's Lawyer-in-Residence Steve Leach is a partner of Ridout & Maybee LLP in the firm's Mississauga office. His practice includes patent drafting and prosecution, trade-mark procurement, related licensing and litigation. 

Steven will be on campus every second Friday during the winter term to address your questions related to intellectual property.

Meet with Steven by appointment, or drop by during his office hours

Location: Mohawk College, Fennell Campus, Room i208

Time:   

• Friday, Jan. 27, 1pm - 3pm


• Friday, Feb. 10, 1pm - 3pm


• Friday, Feb. 24, 1pm - 3pm


• Friday, Mar. 09, 1pm - 3pm


• Friday, Mar. 23, 1pm - 3pm

Mohawk's Lawyer-in-Residence program is presented by iDeaWORKS. Visit iDeaWORKS to find out more about Steven and other in-residence programs including the popular Entrepreneur-in-Residence with Blair McKeil, Chairman and CEO of McKeil Marine.

Mohawk is receiving more than $2.2 million over five years through the College and Community Innovation Program.  Mohawk is one of 18 community colleges across Canada to receive more than $13 million in total funding from the program. 

The Innovation Enhancement Grant will support a new Research Centre in Energy Technology at Mohawk College. The centre will launch an applied research project aimed at solving the challenges of connecting emerging small-scale localized power generation technologies, including solar panels and wind turbines, with existing power grids.

The applied research project will include the construction of a microgrid (a localized power grid) to test power generation, distribution, protection protocols and intelligent energy systems management.  The Mohawk College Applied Research Centre in Energy Technology will carry out the applied research project in partnership with Horizon Utilities, General Electric, Scheweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Langford and associates Incorporated – Schneider, Fuseforward International Inc. and McMaster University.

“Mohawk congratulates the Government of Canada for investing in applied research at community colleges,” says President Rob MacIsaac. ““Applied research projects offer students unique learning experiences and deliver innovative solutions for our industry partners. Together, we’re bringing new products and services to market that create jobs and build prosperity here in the Greater Hamilton Area and across the country.”

In June 2009, Mohawk received a $2.3 million College and Community Innovation Program grant to launch the Mohawk College Applied Research Centre in Health Informatics. The research centre is building and testing the first working prototype of a national electronic health records solution.

“The Government of Canada’s College and Community Innovation Program served as the catalyst for our industry collaborations and contributions to the emerging field of health informatics,” says Ted Scott, Mohawk’s Chief Innovation Officer. “With our new Applied Research Centre in Energy Technology, we intend to make a similar contribution by working with industry to adopt and integrate clean and renewal energy sources.”

Students, faculty and staff are currently working with industry partners on more than 40 applied research projects coordinated by Mohawk iDeaWORKS. The projects are coordinated by Mohawk iDeaWORKS which collaborates with small to medium-sized enterprises, private, non-profit and government organizations to promote innovation, productivity and competitiveness.

Apps for Health 2011 is presented by Mohawk College iDeaWORKS and sponsored by TELUS and the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada. iDeaWORKS brings industry and community partners together with Mohawk students, faculty and staff to work on applied research and innovation projects. More than 200 students, faculty and staff are currently working on 27 projects with industry and community partners.

Opened in February 2010, more than 400 apprentices will train annually at the Gerald Marshall Centre for Transportation for careers in the commercial vehicle and transportation industry.

The centre is named in honour of the late Gerald Marshall, who founded G. Marshall Transport Limited 40 years ago in East Hamilton and passed away in 2006. The Marshall family and Marshall Truck & Trailer Repair Ltd. donated $1.2 million, raised an additional $350,000 and contributed $240,000 for student bursaries named in memory of Gerald and Anna Marshall. The Province of Ontario also contributed $2.9 million from the Ontario Strategic Skills Capital Investment Fund.  

Click here to download PDF: Download Panorama_feb-mar11_rflr[1]

Download Globe and Mail Colleges & Institutes Feature

To find out more come to the Hatchery Pizza Mixer tomorrow, Wednesday, Feb. 9, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Collaboratory (2nd floor H Wing). The Pizza Mixer is an opportunity for entrepreneurial students and faculty to get together to discuss their ideas, find out more about The Hatchery and ENJOY SOME REFRESHMENTS.

The Hatchery is a new initiative at Mohawk that invests in student start-ups. Think of it as an incubator for entrepreneurs in the making. Four groups of students will each be awarded seed money to bring their innovative business ideas to market. But first they have to pitch their ideas to the Mohawk Dragons’ Den.

Here’s how it works:

The Hatchery Pizza Mixer
On Wednesday, February 9, 2011, from 4 to 6 p.m. entrepreneurial students and faculty will get together in the Collaboratory to discuss their ideas, find out more about The Hatchery and ENJOY SOME REFRESHMENTS.

Brainstorming Workshops
We’re here to help you along the way.  Entrepreneurial students with innovative ideas can participate in weekly Brainstorming Workshops, where we’ll teach you how to develop a solid business plan and grow your ideas enroute to commercialization.  Participants are encouraged to work in trans-disciplinary groups of 2-5, so students from different programs can collaborate with business students to form the basis for a successful start-up.

Brainstorming Workshops are held on Wednesdays, 12-2pm, from February 16 to March 16, 2011.

Mohawk Dragons’ Den
In March 2011, students will present their business plan to a panel of Mohawk faculty members and successful entrepreneurs.   The top four teams will be selected to participate in The Hatchery Incubation program and will receive seed money to invest in their venture.

The Hatchery Incubation Program
From May to August , 2011, The Hatchery will provide students with the resources and support they need to bring their ideas to market.

Students will:

• Learn how to start a small business


• Receive support, advice, mentorship and entrepreneurial training


• Network with faculty, industry partners and experienced entrepreneurs


• Receive all of the profit from their venture

How to Apply

We’re looking for full-time second or third year students from a range of programs with innovative business ideas.

If this sounds like you, please join us at The Hatchery Pizza Mixer on Wednesday, February 9, 2011.

Dates to Remember

The Hatchery Pizza Mixer: Wednesday, February 9, 2011, 4-6pm
Brainstorming Workshops: Wednesdays, February 16 – March 16, 2011, 12-2pm
Mohawk Dragon’s Den:  March 2011
The Hatchery Incubation Program:  May—August, 2011

For more information contact dennis.angle@mohawkcollege.ca.

Watch the YouTube video . . .

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qkGyRyI6SSI]