Clarkson University Awarded $20,000 from Gene Haas Foundation to Support CNC Training
Clarkson University has received a $20,000 grant from the Gene Haas Foundation to support engineering students enrolled in computer numerical control (CNC) shop training.
This funding is used for scholarships for machining-focused instruction, supports the University’s Student Projects for Engineering Experience & Design (SPEED) student competition teams, and can help students acquire essential tools. Haas’s backing bolsters hands-on learning, keeps facilities modern, and helps student teams bring designs from concept to reality.
At the heart of this work is Clarkson’s Student Prototyping Machine Shop, located in the Center for Advanced Materials Processing (CAMP) building. The shop is the central resource for students to fabricate, prototype, and test their designs, and while it is most actively used by SPEED teams, it is open to all students on campus.
The shop features a wide range of advanced equipment, including CNC milling machines and lathes, manual machines, welding and fabrication labs, water-jet cutting, wire EDM, and up to five-axis machining centers. Students are trained and certified through a series of courses that cover basic shop skills, lathe and mill operation, CNC programming, welding, and MasterCam software. Skilled machinists supervise the shop to ensure safe practices and guide students as they develop their expertise.
Clarkson’s SPEED teams, such as Formula SAE, Baja SAE, Formula SAE Electric and SAE Clean Snowmobile, rely on the shop to manufacture parts, test assemblies and refine their designs. For example, the Formula Knights build suspension components, drivetrain parts and bodywork in-house, gaining valuable experience with both CNC and manual machining techniques.
These projects demonstrate how the Foundation’s investment directly enhances student learning and prepares Clarkson graduates for careers in advanced manufacturing.
Over the past five years, Clarkson has received nearly $100,000 in support from the Gene Haas Foundation. These funds have enabled scholarship awards and helped sustain the University’s engineering design teams, providing students with real-world experience that extends beyond the classroom.
“Through Haas’s ongoing support, we’re equipping students not just with theory but with tangible skills and opportunities to build, test and compete,” said Supervisor of Technical Support Services Jacob Weller. “We look forward to growing this partnership and keeping our shop and team resources aligned with the latest industry standards.”
