Students in Mr. Dowd’s College Principles of Engineering class recently combined engineering, design, and manufacturing skills to create wall-mounted storage boxes for LifeVac choking rescue devices that will be installed throughout the Hauppauge School District. The project was initiated following a request from Director of Security Gary Messina to help ensure the lifesaving devices are safely stored and easily accessible throughout district buildings.
As part of the project, students designed, prototyped, and produced the boxes from start to finish using a variety of advanced manufacturing tools and techniques. Using Computer Aided Design (CAD) software, students first created digital designs for the project, developing the box as two flat metal components.
The pieces were then precisely cut using a CNC plasma cutter before students manually bent and formed the metal into its final shape. Once assembled using rivets and finished with spray paint, students added a final personalized touch by using the CNC router, known as the Titan, to engrave the LifeVac logo onto a plexiglass door. The engraving creates a naturally illuminated appearance, giving the finished product both a professional and visually striking design.
In total, students produced 20 LifeVac storage boxes, which were donated to the Hauppauge School District for installation throughout school buildings. The boxes will help safely store the lifesaving choking rescue devices while ensuring they remain visible and accessible in emergency situations.
The project provided students with valuable real-world engineering and fabrication experience while allowing them to create something meaningful that will directly benefit the school community.