Students build mandolins

Thirty beautiful mandolins have been produced this semester in two different Computer Integrated Manufacturing (CIM) classes at Skaneateles High School. Fifteen students in each of two classes created and customized their own instruments.

CIM is a Project Lead the Way (PLTW) class that teaches students about manufacturing. It is an honors level class for students, offering college credit at RIT. The musical instrument project has been done for about 10 years and has created hundreds of playable musical instruments, according to Matthew Slauson, engineering and technology teacher.

“Students do many of the manufacturing tasks including design, costing, coding, simulation, wiring, component building, rapid prototyping, finishing and assembly,” said Slauson. While this begins as a mass produced instrument, each student is charged with assembling and personalizing their own. One student even helped build the CNC router that cuts the instrument parts.

“It is my hope that students will create a family heirloom but they will keep and cherish for life time,” Slauson said.