STEM Module - Autodesk Software Roadshow

Autodesk Launches its Support for Northern Ireland Schools – An exciting opportunity
to see how Autodesk can support your School, in conjunction with the STEM Module.
Autodesk are proud to be able to support all Northern Ireland Schools with FREE access to its
industry leading software both inside, and outside, the classroom as well as curriculum created by
teachers, for teachers, as part of our new Design the Future Campaign. In addition to this, as
global software partners of both F1 in Schools, and VEX Robotics, Autodesk has an abundance of
exciting opportunities to inspire your students. Plus with our new certification programme,
mapped to UK curriculum standards, you can ensure you and your students gain the industry
professional recognition that you deserve.
In conjunction with the STEM Module, Autodesk will be hosting a series of drop in sessions from
11am until 5pm across the country to give you a taster of what is on offer. You will be given the
opportunity to sample some of the curriculum, meet our partners and see how you can take the
steps towards integrating this technology into your classroom.
To STEM Module will be making the following visits:
Monday 21st Oct
NEELB - Antrim Board Centre, Lough Road, ANTRIM
Tuesday 22nd Oct
WELB - Education Technology Centre, OMAGH
(Dunnes Stores Car park opposite)
Wednesday 23rd Oct
SELB - Clounagh Centre, PORTADOWN
Thursday 24th Oct
SEELB - Board HQ, Grahamsbridge Road, DUNDONALD
Friday 25th Oct
BELB - Fortwilliam Resource Centre, Fortwilliam Park, BELFAST

Solidworks Student Design Kit

We are happy to announce that the new serial number is now available for the student design kit, any teacher or student that already has the software installed will be able to upgrade the licence.

If you require a new installation, a disc can be requested from Jacquie Uprichard jacqueline.uprichard@selb.org please be aware there are two versions (32 bit and 64 bit) if your computer is a 64 bit machine you will need to bring a pen drive/external drive to the Clounagh Centre with at least 6Gb of free memory.

I hope this all makes sense, any queries please feel free to contact us.
Happy CADing!

Circular saw/Bandsaw Training - Full Course

We would like to bring to you attention the following circular relating to Circular Saw/Bandsaw Training.  Please contact jacquie.uprichard@selb.org should you have any queries.  If there are teachers or technicians in your department that require this training could you please bring this to their attention.  
Please note, this is not refresher training.
 Click here for the link to the document.

Bandsaw and extraction replacement programme.

We are aware that there are still a number of schools who are yet to have their new bandsaws and extraction units fitted.  We would like to assure you that we are currently working on this and hope to have all work, (including any remaining issues with retrofitted extraction units to older bandsaws/existing hammer saws) completed in the coming weeks.  We appreciate your patience and co-operation on this matter.  We would also like to take this opportunity to wish you all the best of luck in the upcoming academic year. 

PS If there are any new teachers/technicians in your department could you please let us know and we will add them to the mailing list. 

Centre Lathe Test - deadline 28th June.

For those who have yet to complete the Yacapaca Centre Lathe test could you please do so before next Friday 28th. I appreciate there have been some issues with users not getting logged on but that has now been resolved.  If you do not see the test you may have to click on the archive tab (top right) on your home screen after you have logged in.

Technician Training - News

 Please click on the link below and see circular number 2013/096 for details.

http://www.selb.org/schooldocuments/index.htm

KS3 Project sharing opportunity - CANCELLED!

HEPA Vacuum Cleaners - important note!

It has come to our attention that a number of departments are not aware that they should have received a HEPA vacuum cleaner.  These have been provided from funding through DENI and are to be used in Technology departments only.  It is crucial that the delivery note for this equipment is signed by an authorised person and the signed form returned to Kay Wilkinson in SELB HQ as soon as possible.  Please contact jacquie.uprichard@selb.org should you have any queries about this.

Accident in D&T on a sanding machine

The Health and Safety Executive has recently published details of a case where a school was prosecuted following an accident in a design and technology workshop. A pupil`s fingers were trapped between the table and rotating disc of the sanding machine. The school was fined £3500 and was ordered to pay an additional £5000 of legal fees.

CLEAPPS has discussed this matter with HSE officers, who reported that the main cause of the accident was the table of the machine was set too far back from the sanding disc.

This model of machine is not common place in our Technology departments but is of course very similar to the bandfacer, please can you ensure that the gap between the support table and the bandfacer belt is as small as possible and not more than 3mm.

Details of the HSE press release can be found at:

http://www.hse.gov.uk/press/2012/rnn-wm-16712.htm?eban=govdel-risk&cr=05-Nov-2012

Solidworks Student Design Kit 64 bit version

Good News!! We have finally been able to put together a 64 bit version of the Solidworks Student Design Kit, unfortunately due to its size (6Gb) we cannot burn it to DVD. We recommend bringing in an external drive with sufficient space so that we can transfer it across.

Please be aware that it could take up to 30 minutes to transfer such a large file.

Bandsaw extraction

As you are already aware the Department of Education has provided funding to facilitate the extraction of bandsaws in Technology workshops.  Solutions to this will differ from workshop to workshop and from school to school.  An extraction system (for existing Hammer and Startrite bandsaws with an extraction port) will shortly arrive in your school.  This will be installed and commissioned by Lee saw Company upon delivery.  For those bandsaws which cannot be extracted, they will be replaced with a Hammer bandsaw with accompanying extraction unit.   The installation of these units will be carried out by the maintenance department within the SELB.  The school must therefore complete a sale or disposal form to ensure collection of the obselete bandsaws.  We appreciate this is a very busy time for schools but we value your patience and co-operation in providing a smooth transition to new equipment.