[TheForge] ASM Materials Camp

[Bob Willman]

	I had the privilege of demonstrating blacksmithing last Friday to
about 32 high school students and mentors from around the world who attended
the Materials Camp held at Materials Park of "ASM INTERNATIONAL" near
Cleveland, Ohio. The students chosen to attend this camp have an interest in
metallurgy and related fields. Materials Park contains an open aluminum
geodesic dome 103' high and 274' in diameter weighing 80 tons. Under the
dome is a garden with ore and metal samples imbedded in the walks and stone
walls.

	The camp ran all week where the students were given materials that
failed such as a cracked brake disc rotor, various wrenches, broken truck
spring and a leaking SS pipe fitting in a tomato processing plant. They have
all sorts of lab equipment (scanning electron microscope, spectrograph
technology and all sorts of mechanical test devices) at their disposal to
use in an attempt to analyze why their part failed. They then give their
group presentation to the whole student body and staff presenting the
situation that failed, what test they performed on the part, what those
tests revealed, why the part failed and what could have been done to prevent
that failure.

	ASM invites blacksmiths to the last day of this event to give the
students a reference to where and how materials technology was in it's
infancy. Each student that wants is given an opportunity to make a simple
hook that they can take with them. A number of their mentors also made hooks
and sometime they are just as excited as the students.

	I assisted blacksmith Ron Sheely this year at ASM.  I would be
remiss if I did not mention that Bill Hahn started this some years ago and
each time I go there I feel Bill looking over our shoulders.

	You can see where we were by visiting www.asminternational.org .
Click on "about ASM" and then click "Materials Park". There is also a link
to "Eisenman Materials Camp" on the home page which will probably have
photos of last week as soon as they get them online.

	These are the young folks that you will not see or hear about on the
6:00 news! A truly unique experience. 

Thank you ASM.

	

Bob Willman
The Eagle's Anvil
WB8NQW
Bowling Green, Ohio

I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government
from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of
them.

Thomas Jefferson