The QuEST team has trialled a short modular course aimed at engineering staff on the STFC Graduate Scheme and received fantastic feedback from the 4 delegates who attended.
The practical training held in the QuEST workshop across 3 weeks was focused on machining techniques – the graduates produced parts from designs provided for them to understand the constraints and challenges of machining and assembly, then used their own designs with their new-found understanding in mind. Finally they built and leak-tested a vacuum assembly.
Martin, a Graduate based in ISIS reflected on his experience:
“Constructing the vacuum assembly provided us with invaluable experience working with real components and kickstarting our understanding of the intrinsic challenges of vacuum system operation that are critical to effective vacuum design! This was a great opportunity to bridge the gap between theoretical understanding and practical implementation, with many anecdotes from all the instructors meaning that we not only learnt from our own mistakes, but also from all those who came before us.”
QuEST Trainer Jamie Carter explained:
“The course gave them space to explore manufacturing fundamentals and ask the right questions about design for manufacture. Programmes like this allow designers to experiment, learn from mistakes and better understand how components are actually made – the two-way exchange of experience is what makes this kind of training so valuable.”
