On Thursday, October 19, Middlesex Community College is bringing a number of STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) students to tour Cirtronics Corporation, an advanced manufacturing company for medical, robotics and defense applications in Milford, N.H. One of the activities offered during Massachusetts STEM Week, MCC’s goal is to show students the process to manufacture and assemble a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).
“I’m hoping to see what it’s like working at a manufacturing facility that’s related to my major because as of right now, I don’t have a lot of knowledge or experience when it comes to engineering in the real world,” said Jessica Pace, an MCC Electrical Engineering major from Fitchburg. “I believe it’ll help me understand the reason why learning the principles of electric circuits are so important. When there’s meaning behind a reason why you learn something, it makes it a lot easier to study toward it.”
Through MCC, Pace is hoping to gain a clear idea of her pathway before transferring to a four-year institution. In addition to providing early exposure to the field, Pace believes attending opportunities such as the PCB tour helps build confidence in making future career choices.
“I’m hoping to see what it’s like working at a manufacturing facility that’s related to my major because as of right now, I don’t have a lot of knowledge or experience when it comes to engineering in the real world.” - Jessica Pace, MCC Student
“There are so many things that I want to learn, but I never had the right background knowledge to even know where to begin,” Pace said. “I’m glad to have the opportunities to be able to know where to begin when it comes to learning more interesting topics on my own. I think research is really fun and it’s even better being able to make sense of the real meaning behind it all.”
During the trip to Cirtronics, students will see the equipment and processes used to make PCBs, starting from computer-based models and ending with final boards that students create in class, but on a larger scale. The goal is to provide students an additional perspective as they think about projects in the future.
Esny Fevrier, an MCC student from Haiti, is looking forward to seeing how designs are created and presented in real situations.
“As a student learning how to present a design you’ve never experimented with before made me intrigued,” Fevrier said. That will be a new way or perception of what students will do after getting their degrees.”
This type of experience allows students to get a better sense of what type of work they can do in the future with their degrees, according to Angel Escalona, MCC Engineering and Engineering Technology Professor.
“The tour serves as a complementary component to theoretical lectures and hands-on experience with PCB design software,” Escalona said. “While teaching students the initial stages of PCB design, this trip will offer them a practical understanding of what occurs once the PCB schematic and layout have been finalized. This knowledge is particularly valuable for students with an interest in electronics, engineering, or any other field reliant on electronic devices.”