Plasma-cutter upgrades provide hands-on training for Fatima Ag students

By Neal A. Johnson, UD Editor
Posted 3/4/20

There are many aspects to Agriculture courses, from planning to planting, and from harvest to market, but another important part of the classes offered at Fatima, both for high school students and …

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Plasma-cutter upgrades provide hands-on training for Fatima Ag students

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There are many aspects to Agriculture courses, from planning to planting, and from harvest to market, but another important part of the classes offered at Fatima, both for high school students and adults, is welding, which has been offered for many years.

“Agriculture, as with most industries, is always evolving,” said Fatima Ag Educator and FFA Advisor Albert Rieke. “It is important that our students are able to get hands-on training with these new technologies, so they are better trained to be productive. That in turn benefits either their future jobs or personal businesses. With this system, for example a person could design and cut out parts for equipment, thus increasing productively or down time. However, there are many other applications for this technology as well.”

Though mainly through Ag Construction classes, there is also a standalone welding class that has existed for approximately 15 years at R-3.

For about 20 years, the school has owned a plasma-cutting machine, but it wasn’t until last year that a grant was received to help purchase the software/table/torch package.

“The software packages allow students and adults to design parts and cut-outs,” said Rieke. “With the table’s computer/software individuals are allowed to communicate with the table operating systems to set parameters, initiate a dry run mode or the cutting process itself.”

As students have gained an understanding of the working processes, Rieke said that in the past month, they have used it for at least 10 to 15 minutes daily to perform cuts.

“Over time, I expect as students become more proficient with the operating systems and gain confidence in their ability to design and run the machine, it will be used more frequently,” said Rieke.

Through the collaboration of Superintendent Chuck Woody and the Fatima Agriculture program, both Adult and Secondary, the school was able to purchase this state of the art technology to benefit members and students.

“We are grateful that this grant opportunity came along,” said Rieke.