Tuxedo STEM Academy unveils HAAS Mini Mill

TUXEDO — On Monday, Oct. 24, the Tuxedo STEM Academy held a ribbon-cutting ceremony to unveil its newest addition, a HAAS Mini Mill to the HAAS Lab, at the STEM Academy.
The Mini Mill cost about $30,000. District officials said the HAAS Mini Mill was purchased to enhance the STEM Program for the students at the high school.
With the addition of the Mini Mill, students will be capable of going from the thought process or idea stage to the design process to the fabrication process.
The students are currently utilizing CAD (computer assisted drawing) and will be introduced to SolidWorks in the near future.
Interim Superintendent Nancy Teed said the Mini Mill will allow students to initially to produce tool parts, robotic parts, bracket, holders and wrenches.
"This is the initial stage I of production and as they move forward to more sophisticated items," Tweed said in an email exchange with The Photo News, "we anticipate getting to the point of producing prosthetics down the line."
The occasion
District staff and students Dylan Leo, Arik Mozejko, Jeremy Dedel and Vasilis Lymberis were joined by state Sen. John Bonacic at the unveiling of the Mini Mill.Bonacic was crucial in securing additional state aid for the district last year. This prompted district officials to investigate and plan the beginnings of the HAAS Lab.
Others who joined the unveiling of the Mini Mill were Neil McGill, director of Operations at Allendale Machinery. McGill has worked closely with the district’s STEM Advisor, Marco Margotta, in developing a partnership between the district and Allendale Machinery.
Others present were: Diana Petrosky, president of the Board of Education, Joanne Vernon, vice president of the Board of Education, Principal Jason Schrammel and Interim Superintendent Nancy Teed.
Open house
• The Tuxedo School District will hold an open house on Nov. 30 from 6 to 8 p.m.• Those interested may visit the website for additional information: www.tuxedoufsd.org.