Here’s a fun fact:
Did you know that Colorado is home to 500+ aerospace-related businesses and suppliers, making it the second largest aerospace economy in the nation? (source: metrodenver.org) Top aerospace contractors like Ball Aerospace, Boeing, Lockheed Martin, Harris Corporation and others all have a presence in Colorado. So, what makes Colorado so attractive for aerospace companies? There are actually many reasons, but the one that stands out the most is the amount and nature of academic studies here.
Coloradans have a high college attainment rate, making the state a suitable place for aerospace companies to attract and retain top technical talent. It’s also the home of two academic institutions that offer nationally ranked aerospace programs and degrees: the University of Colorado at Boulder and The U.S. Air Force Academy in Colorado Springs. Dig a little deeper, and you’ll find numerous aerospace communities and nonprofits across the state whose mission is to promote the growth of space-related industries. One of those groups is the Colorado Business Space Roundtable (CSBR).
Recently, The 3D Printing Store invited 30 CSBR student interns to explore 3D printing and its role in the aerospace supply chain for a day. The CSBR Summer Internship is a two week program that gives students a chance to visit with different companies and get a first-hand look at what it’s like to work in different facets in the aerospace industry. Many of the interns come from rural high schools and have limited exposure to Colorado’s booming aerospace industry. We were excited to get The 3D Printing Store and Accucode 3D teams together to share our experience and expertise with everyone.
The interns got to participate in multiple hands-on activities such as Q&A with one of our engineers. Each group had one-on-one time with Daniel Braga and could ask him questions about his time working in space systems. Other activities ranged from design lessons for additive manufacturing using CAD software, to a tour of The 3D Printing Store’s Carbon 3D Lab. To wrap things up, each intern was given a 3D print of their name to take home. Our partners at Carbon 3D donated all the resin materials used to print the interns’ names and we couldn’t be more appreciative of all the support in helping us inspire the next generation of aerospace professionals.
Check out our event recap video below and let us know what you think!
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