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Last updated Tuesday, May 6, 2008. New to www.afsbirmingham.org? Click here for highlights of our website. Quick Links
Current NewsUpcoming CMI Course CMI will be offering a Cupola Melting for Engineers course April 23-25, in Birmingham, Ala. This course emphasizes the engineering factors involved in cupola operation. It covers subjects starting with a history of stack-type melting units to the most modern computer-operated cupolas, including cokeless cupolas. A comprehensive examination of the cupola's advantages and disadvantages will be presented. Details about the location of the class will be posted soon."Foundry in a Box" Arrives AFS Birmingham has recently received the "Foundry in a Box". The "Foundry" consists of three heavy duty shipping cases. The cases contain the equipment, materials, and safety equipment that will allow two people to make sand castings (in a smokeless, oil-bonded sand) and permanent mold castings (in a graphite mold). Tin is melted in a small resistance electric furnace. Everything runs on 110 Volt and is non-toxic and odorless. With the low melting point of about 500°F, running this "foundry" is about as dangerous as baking a pizza. For more information on the "Foundry", to volunteer to demonstrate, or to schedule a demonstration contact Dave Hughes at dhughes@mcwanepipe.com or 205-241-4210.From the Chairman I would like to extend our special thanks on behalf of the chapter to Dr. Srinath Viswanathan, the entire engineering faculty and the student AFS Chapter of the University of Alabama Tuscaloosa for a very enlightening, entertaining and enjoyable student day held this past April 11th. As always, our April meeting is a salute to the young men and women preparing themselves to enter into the world of metalcasting – and with programs as strong as this one, I am certain our industry will continue to have the very best prepared engineers – as evidenced by the presentations given at this meeting. We truly appreciate the University, the professors and the students for their dedication, presentations and for the opportunity for our chapter to come visit to see firsthand the work, the facilities and most importantly the people (future metal casting engineers and the faculty). This meeting was a fitting close to our technical year – a year where the technical presentations offered us a variety of topics that were highly educational, extremely interesting and of value to us all. Our hats off to our Program Chairman Brian Floyd – Brian a fantastic job! As we come to the close of the 2007-2008 chapter session I would like to take just a moment to thank all of you for allowing me the honor and privilege of being your chairman. This has been a fantastic year where I have had the opportunity of a lifetime to work with a great group of directors, officers, committees and a remarkable membership! I now fully understand why the Birmingham Chapter is the BEST chapter – it is because of ALL the great folks that make up the chapter – YOU! I am pleased to say that the health of the chapter is well – we stand firmly as the 2nd largest chapter with 538 members, three great student chapters, our financial shape is good (thanks to the wonderful support of our company members and suppliers) and we are poised for a fantastic upcoming year with a great slate of officers, BOD, strong committee direction and participation; along with the continued support of the best membership anywhere… Please join us at our May meeting as we take time to salute our past chairmen, as well as the ALL the great folks that have contributed so much of their time, talents, finances, this year in making the Birmingham Chapter the envy of the entire AFS Society. Again, I thank you for the great honor of serving as the 2007-2008 Chapter Chairman – I hope that I have served the society and chapter well... attempting to follow in the huge footsteps of the elite roster of former chairmen… I hope that I have honored them and you. Thank you so much for the allowing me this great opportunity and privilege. I look forward to seeing and visiting with you all at our last meeting May 12th and, for many more chapter gatherings to come after. Come help us celebrate the close of a great year… don’t forget Kersh will be giving away ALL the money! Thank you and Best Wishes, Kevin Crawford, Chairman PS: I wish everyone a great and safe summer… and I look forward to a fantastic 2008-2009 chapter session, along with our hosting of the 2009 Southeast Regional here in Birmingham… Take care! From the UAB Materials Science and Engineering Dept. Dr. Alan Druschitz has joined the UAB Materials Science and Engineering Department and will be directing their efforts in the area of metalcasting. His primary focus will be to grow the metals casting group and re-tool the curriculum to better align with the needs of the metalcasting industry today. Additionally UAB intends to become an internationally renowned center for research in the metal casting field. They are well on their way with plans for facilities updates and grant proposals, but Dr. Druschitz needs the help of AFS Birmingham and our member foundries and suppliers. The first step Dr. Druschitz has taken is to re-establish UAB as an FEF accredited school. He is assembling an advisory board and is still in need of a few members to sit on the panel. Please join me in welcoming Dr. Druschitz to Birmingham and if you can help in any way contact him at 205-975-8120 or adrus@uab.edu MSU Student Chapter News Mississippi State University will Co-Host the 7th Biennial International Conference on Industrial Tooling on October 1-3, 2008 Click HERE for more information. |
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