Laser Engraving
Before doing the learning by doing materials assignment I had limited knowledge on materials processing. From what I learned in various places are I went through school I assumed that materials processing was the act of preparing materials to be used. Basically, taking a material from its raw form and making it to a point where I can be used in building. The Learning by Doing assignment really opened my eyes as to not only what material processing is but also what Laser engraving really is. When I was able to operate the laser engraver, I was surprised to see that there were so many different options as to what materials you could use in the machine. I had assumed that I would just simply choose wood and move on I did not know that I would have to select cherry wood or hardwood so that the machine would be able to operate properly. Overall, I think that doing the laser engraving was the most beneficial part of this activity to me as it allowed me to experience how everything worked and moved rather than me simply reading about its process on paper. I believe that this activity has truly expanded my knowledge of materials. I gained a lot of understanding of simply how the slightest minute variations in the density of a material can affect how it’s processed. I also learned more about what exactly materials processing is. As I pursue a construction management degree and must go through many more classes dealing with a variety of materials, the skills and knowledge I have gained from this activity will prove to be extremely beneficial to me.