Donating a 3D printer to a local organization allows students to learn more about the process.
Recently, Justin Nichols, Megan Ashline and Dan Williams of Nichols Paint and Fab in Watseka visited the Watseka Park District to make a donation.
Nicholls pointed out that schools today don't offer many industrial or more practical courses.
He said the skills children will learn in the curriculum will help them find jobs that will allow them to make a good living.
“We're just trying to give the younger generation as many opportunities as we can,” he said. “We go to car shows, we do hands-on things like RCs. We try to get them involved and get them wanting to come to car shows or get them involved in the industry as much as possible.”
He said Nichols Paint & Fab is having a hard time finding employees to help build custom cars and trucks.
“I think what I'm trying to do is open up kids' minds, and take them from the computer to creating something they can actually hold in their hands,” he said. “We make custom car parts and custom pieces.” Williams has done a lot of those custom pieces.
“Dan has created some things that would never have been available without his skills and his brain,” Nichols said, “It opens the door to so many things, so many industries. This is just another step in what we hope will be the development of young people.”
Nichols emphasized that this type of technology is now a reality in Watseka. Nichols' shop has seven 3D printers in operation. “They range from 2-foot squares to much smaller. Don't be put off by the size. You can literally make anything you want.”
Williams says you input the details of the job, and the program breaks it down into parts based on the size of the bed. Once the pieces are ready, they're glued together and assembled.
“It's really a modular tool,” Nichols said. “We have scanning capabilities in our shop, so if we can't find one that fits the dash, can't buy it, or can't repair it, we'll make a new one and send it out for painting, chrome plating, or whatever work needs to be done. We can physically scan a person's head and make a copy of it. It's just a cool little tool that we've incorporated into our business.”
Nichols said he chose to donate to the park district because he knew there was interest, and Williams is also available to help the park district as a consultant if needed.
“We're very excited about (the scanner donation),” said Shelley Johnson, the park district's executive director.
The park district is in a new location on South Second Street in Watseka, in the old building that housed Nichols' business for several years.
“He's coming back to his old home,” she said. “I'm so excited that something of his that was originally part of this building and that started his business is coming back here and helping other people start their own businesses as well.”
The new building has more technology than the old Park District building. “Unit 9 donated computer desks,” she said. “They already had a bunch of screens.”
Trent Hamende, who works in the park district's IT department, was able to acquire a few more parts and upgrade the technology in the building.
Johnson said the park service plans to host classes in the fall for young people who want to learn about 3D printing. “We're going to explain 3D printing to young people and show them how it works. If they want to come back and learn about 3D printing, we'll add it as part of our continuing programming here. The possibilities are endless. We're really excited about it.”
Johnson said Nichols and Ashline have been very supportive of the park district and are very grateful for this donation.
“We're making progress,” she said.
