SME Members to volunteer for UAB Baja 2011

UAB Materials & Mechanical Engineering: 2011 Baja Birmingham

An invitation from the local SAE Chapter to meet the UAB Baja team brought several of our membership groups together to meet the students and staff from the UAB Materials and Mechanical Engineering Departments that participate with the UAB Baja Team. Please, visit their 2011 UAB Baja Birmingham informational site for information about their upcoming event.

Several of our SME members plan to attend and to Volunteer to serve various positions at this Innaugural UAB Baja event, scheduled for April 14 - 18, 2011 at Stony Lonesome OHV Park, near Cullman, AL.

While on our February tour at UAB, Tina Oliver, PhD presented us with information about the UAB Baja team, their Engineering leadership, and the students who devote so much of their time to building one of the premier University Baja teams in the world. Tina informed us that there may be 50 - 100 University Teams from all over the world entering a Baja mobile in this event. She also explained the many events, such as Acceleration, Water Maneuverability, Land Maneuverability, Suspension & Traction, Design, and the rugged, Endurance Event. Following the open discussion, Dr. Tina, Dr. Bharat Soni, Dr. Brian Pillay, and Dr. Uday Vaidya offered group tours of their labs:

Dr. Pillay strolled across campus with approximately 15 or so guests to see the new Materials Engineering Design Lab. Already worldwide recognized as one of the most unique and advanced, new and upcoming Composite Material Education Labs in the world, Dr. Pillay showed us how companies such as Honda and Mercedes (company members present) are able to test new composites, gaining valuable research and testing experiences. Please, take a few moments to review a little information about the UAB Materials Engineering Composite Design Lab.

Dr. Soni and his Staff walked with 15 or so other guests to view the nearby Advanced 3D Visual Labs, located within the same Mechanical Engineering Building, the Business Engineering Building. Recent innovations and projects viewed include Real-time Distance Surgical Procedure Education and Modeling support for Emergency situations.

Dr. Vaidya, Dr. Tina Oliver and most of the Baja students took the remainder of the guests to view the INDYCar and the Baja Team Machine Shop. Shown below, some of the SAE and SME sponsors that help to support the team.

Later, on a recent Monday during the middle of February, the SME Birmingham Board members met to discuss SME participation with the UAB Baja Team. Our Board panel, including Blane Vines of Nucor Tuscaloosa, Mark Partyka our retiring Chair Member, LaVada Varner of ATN, Brian Everling of Precision Grinding, Inc., and now, Doug Cole from Aerotek agreed that it's a good idea for SME Birmingham members to pursue volunteering a 1/2 day or more each to serve as Registration/Check-In, Parking/Traffic Attendants, Field Sum Scorers, Food Services/ Hospitality hosts, and possibly as Field Evaluators. Please, again, visit the UAB BAJA internet site to submit your name to volunteer to serve a position, sometime during the Th - Sun weekend event.

For more information about SME Birmingham or for more information about UAB Baja, please, email Brian Everling at BrianEverling@phd1.com.

We look forward to hearing from you.

If your company would like to offer sponsorship to support the UAB Baja Team, please, send us an email or submit a request to the UAB Baja Team. Sponsorship positions include Banner Opportunities, Lunch / Dinner / Snack Hospitality Tents, and Career Fair Tents.

UAB Tour, Chili Dinner, and Basketball

Been awhile since you have visited UAB’s campus? Want to find a way to support future engineering students? Or just want to come out and see what’s new?

UAB Baja and SAE Alabama invites us to a Chili Dinner and the UAB vs Marshall men’s basketball game on January 26th beginning at 5:30 pm. See below for full schedule for the evening.

During dinner, they will be presenting information about the upcoming Baja SAE Birmingham competition and it’s need for volunteers and sponsorship.UAB Engineering is an organizer for the Baja competition this year along with the SAE Alabama Section. They are very excited about this opportunity to host and see it as part of the program’s growth. The UAB Baja program moved into the top 25 nationally last year and it was the first time they competed with 2 cars. They will need volunteers onsite for the events as well as design judges before and during the event.

After dinner, tours of selected new/improved labs will be available. The School of Engineering has added several new labs in the past few years including the MPAD (MSE composites and casting group), the VISCUBE (ME visualization lab) and the School of Engineering Design lab.

To finish out the night, they have invited us to join them for the UAB vs Marshall men’s basketball game. Tickets will be sponsored by the UAB School of Engineering so let us know early if you would like to attend.

5:30-6:20pm Dinner in BEC Lobby
6:20- 6:45pm Visit labs/ projects
7pm~ UAB Blazer Basketball

More details will be provided after registration.

They are looking for representation from all of the professional societies in the Birmingham area.

This is a free event, however, I would suggest that the SME membership come together and collect donations that can be made on behalf of SME.

Please register before Sunday, January 23rd so we can give them a head count to prepare.

Register by sending an e-mail to Blane.Vines@nucor.com or markpartyka@yahoo.com.

Smiths Machine – Thursday Dec. 02, 2010

Smiths Machine invites SME Birmingham Chapter 143 to tour their Cottondale, AL Plant #1.

Date:
December 02, 2010

Time:
4:45 p.m. - Social Time (Refreshments provided)
5:30 p.m. - Tour

Location:
Smiths Machine - Plant #1
14120 Highway 11 North
Cottondale, AL 35453


Smiths Machine provides State of the Art Manufacturing through applied integrated engineering, planning, and manufacturing processes. They use Multi-Axis Twin Spindle Turning that can complete all six sides of complex parts in one setting, resulting in higher accuracy in the shortest time. They handle parts up to 600mm diameter and 1.18 meters in length. Their high-tech 5 axis milling machines give the ability to produce the most demanding complex geometry of part sizes up to 1 cubic meter, utilizing multiple pallets and high capacity tool magazines. The Value Added Services include mechanical assembly, surface and heat treatments as well as kitting and customized packaging. A world class inspection department is synchronized with production to ensure the highest accuracy. Inspecting with the latest scanning technology by ZEISS, they can measure all parts they manufacture. Smiths Machine LLC is ISO 9001:2000 CERTIFIED for Quality Management Systems and is a majority female owned business.

PPE requirements not yet determined.


Please register for this event by sending an e-mail to MarkPartyka@yahoo.com or Blane.Vines@nucor.com.

We look forward to seeing you there.

Honda Tour - Lincoln, AL - Thursday, May 13, 2010

Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC invites the local SAE and the SME Birmingham Chapter 143 to tour their Lincoln, Alabama plant.

Date: May 13, 2010
Time: 3:00pm - 7:00pm, Social Hour begins at 3:00pm.

Honda Manufacturing of Alabama, LLC produces over 300,000 vehicles and engines annually, including the Honda Odyssey, the Honda Pilot, the Honda Ridgeline, the Honda V-6 Accord and Honda V-6 engines. The plant sits on 1350 acres with over 3.5 million square feet of buildings and plant. Over 4,000 associates work on-site. Operations include: Stamping, welding, painting, plastic injection molding, casting, machining, assembly and sub-assembly, engine assembly, testing, and quality assurance.

Please bring your PPE equipment: Safety Glasses & Steel-toe boots.

Please, Register via ONLINE REGISTRATION at http://www.inline.com/sme. A $5.00 donation will be accepted at the door for this event.

CONGRATULATIONS! HONDA on a successful, innaugural Barber Motorsports IRL Grand Prix of Alabama.

Questions: contact Mark.Partyka@Siemens.com or Blane.Vines@BhamFast.com

We look forward to seeing you there. Please, mark your calenders, accordingly.

Indy Grand Prix of Alabama - Barber MotorSports

April 9 - 11 Barber MotorSports Grand Prix of AL, IRL

Mark, Blane, Al & Brian showing the new SME Birmingham Banner .

SME Birmingham and Precision Grinding invited SME members and their guests to visit us in the LOT D Camping section throughout the Scheduled events on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We secured (4) tent sites, complete with 10' x 10' canopy tents, a new SME Chapter 143 Banner, and plenty of Southern hospitality.

Enjoying the view from the hilltop above Turns 15 & 16 during the Sunday IRL. Helio Castroneves and the No. 3 Team won the inaugural Barber Motorsports Grand Prix of Alabama.

Event tickets were $70.00 (3) day pass. (Past Commentary) We have these full event passes available for the first (10) members to sign up. (3) day passes allow you to enter the Lot D camping area to join us. Repeat, in order to join us within the Lot D Camping area, you must have a 3-day ticket for the Indy event in order to gain access. Additionally, if you would like to purchase a $50.00 on-site parking pass, we have two available - note, Barber's has SOLD OUT the allotment of on-site parking passes. Please, email or call one of us directly for onsite parking passes. Otherwise, General Admission Public Parking, off-site parking is available at the I-459, Derby Parkway and John Rogers Blvd., Birmingham Race Course. Shuttles should run all day, all three days. Please, click the above link for directions from the north, south, east, and west.

Special Note: One child, 12-under is allowed into this Barber INDY event with a paid ticket. However, those entering the campground must be 13-over. Please, note these rules for children.

Precision Grinding members and staff are bringing grills to Bar-B-Q your favorite foods. Please, bring along your cooler full of your favorite beverages. GLASS CONTAINERS ARE NOT ALLOWED in the park. Please, bring along your favorite outdoor chairs. If you would like to bring additional ICE, SOFT DRINKS, WATERS, SNACKS, MEATS, BREADS or FOODS to share with your associates, we accept all of your support.

Special Reminders: Bring a chair or field blanket. Bring Earplugs or Race Headphones. The Sunday Main Indy race will be broadcast live on radios, bring personal radios. Bring Sun-Block.

Additionally, we should have a locked utility trailer on-site in order to secure belongings for the weekend. If you happen to want to sleep in the Campground at the track on Fri or Sat night, please, know that you are welcome. Please, bring your sleeping bag, blankets, and pillow. We will do all we can to accomodate your needs during the three days.

We plan to hold a "Putting 'n Pitching" contest. We'll also have "Horse Shoes" available. Most Barber events hold a quiet time during Church services in the area from 11a - 12p on Sunday. Lunches and contests will begin at 11am.

Please, visit Barber MotorSports website for a full slate of information about rules and regulations. SME $70.00 tickets will allow you to view all events from the grass hillsides. These tickets will not allow you into the additionally priced paddock area: paddock area tickets cost an additional $60.00. These 3-day tickets will allow you to experience most of the festivities at the track. Please, consider visiting the Barber Museum while there. The museum is unique and extremely interesting.

For all members who purchase tickets directly from Barber Motorsports, please, know that we are accepting $10 donations to attend the campground festivities. Please, register at our SME Birmingham online registration site, and we will be back in touch with you. Please, check the appropriate boxes on the registration site. We will call or email you, ASAP.

Email BrianEverling@phd1.com or Blane.Vines@bhamfast.com with any Additional Questions.

30-40 guests enjoyed a great weekend at Barber Motorsports!

MBUSI Invites SME & SAE to Tour Plant, March 25

Mercedes Benz U.S. International (MBUSI) has invited members from SME and SAE to tour the Vance/Tuscaloosa plant. Please see notes below for further registration information.

About MBUSI:
Seventeen years have passed since MBUSI came to Alabama and North America as the first Mercedes-Benz passenger vehicle plant located outside of Germany. MBUSI is now well into the second chapter of its life, creating new products and expanding its impact on the Tuscaloosa community and Alabama.

Today, Plant Tuscaloosa represents in excess of a $1.29-billion investment. MBUSI currently has just under 3,000 Team Members and a capacity to build 160,000 vehicles. Plant Tuscaloosa builds the second generation M-Class, the R-Class Sports Tourer and the GL-Class full-size SUV. Plant Tuscaloosa also now builds the innovative new clean BlueTEC diesel technology into the R-Class, GL- and M-Class SUVs assembled here.

In 2009, the ML 450 Hybrid was launched in the U.S., and it was announced that MBUSI will build the next generation C-Class, set for launch in 2014. Vehicles built at MBUSI are solely built in Alabama for more than 135 markets around the world.

Tour date: Thursday, March 25, 2010
Tour start place: Plant 1 Lobby (beside Plant 1, east side parking lot)

Refreshments: 4:45pm to 5:30pm
MBUSI Presentation - Phil Johnston: 5:30pm - 5:50pm
Tours Start: 5:50pm (3 groups - sign up 1st come 1st serve)
Tour 1 - 5:50pm start
Tour 2 - 6:00pm start
Tour 3 - 6:10pm start
Tour length approx 1 1/4 hours.

Tour registration: Registrants will be forwarded schedule of events & map to MBUSI Plant 1, East Parking lot.
Tour requirements: Please bring your own PPE safety wear which should include: Long sleeve shirts, safety glasses, hearing protection; Steel toes not required as the tour groups will stay within the tour route. Please, bring along a photo identification so that attendees can be identified according to registration; a driver license should be acceptable.

Additional note=> for any people able to arrive VERY EARLY, they may take a walk thru the MBUSI Visitor Center which is open from 8:30am until 4:30pm, Monday thru Friday.

Please, Register via the open ONLINE REGISTRATION site at http://www.inline.com/sme. Please, check the PAYMENT Box, Not Applicable. There is no fee for this event. We are in the process of modifying the online registration to meet the Mercedes tour requirements.

Questions: Please contact Blane Vines, email blane.vines@bhamfast.com .

Our April Meeting is scheduled for "the innaugural GRAND PRIX of ALABAMA", sometime April 9 - 11, 2010. Please, view http://www.barbermotorsports.com for more information about this Indy car circuit event. Tickets cost $70.00 each (advance payment) for a 3-day pass, Fri - Sun. SME and Precision Grinding will host 4 tents in the Lot D camping area for those wishing to gather together. All individuals must have a 3-day pass in order to enter the campsite area. We will post more information about the Barber Motor Sports event following the Mercedes tour.

Your SME webmaster, Brian.

UAB to host SolidWorks Seminar at Inline 2/22/10

Inline will host our upcoming February 22, 2010 meeting from 5:00 - 7:30 p. Tina Oliver, Assistant Professor, UAB School of Engineering and some of her students will demonstrate the MS Excel Spreadsheet design portion of SolidWorks. Designing a "parts lists" or a "list of materials" from within a CAD program is becoming a standard requirement, inside the sales & estimation departments of many of our companies. Tina has graciously accepted the task to introduce our membership, along with any invited guests to learn more about engaging some of these "higer functions" within CAD programs. Hope to see all of you at our Monday evening meeting.

Tina and the UAB Mechanical Engineering Department also sponsor and compete in the university BAJA competitions. Several of the BAJA engineering students may be in attendance, serving as our guides. UAB also fields a competitive FSAE team, a university Formula1 sponsored team. SME Birmingham Chapter 143 is doing our best to help support, rather to offset some of their financial requirements. As noted, in our January, 2010 blog, several of us attended the FSAE testing & trials at Barbers Motorsports where Auburn, Georgia Tech, and Louisville fielded competitive teams.

Please, register your interest by visiting the Online Registration Form for this seminar event. We're seeking a $25.00 donation to help support some of the endeavors of the UAB BAJA Team.

Directions to Inline:

From I-65 at the Lakeshore Exit, drive west, passing Wildwood and John Carroll High School, until you meet West Oxmoor Road. Turn right onto W. Oxmoor Road, then take an immediate left into the Inline parking lot. Please, find parking available, then enter the main glass doors at the front of the building. We'll meet in the front lobby before moving into the conference room. Note, light dinner refreshments will be served. If you wish to bring along a notebook computer, please, do so. Inline's phone number is (205) 278-8100. Martin Costa, CPA, CEO and his team will serve as our hosts.

No Safety gear required. Please, Email Mark.Partyka@siemens.com with any questions, as he is taking command of the online registration requirements. You may discuss further details with Mark Partyka by telephone at (205) 907-3681.