From the classroom to the workshop: lathe turning and wire-cut EDM.
In this course, I moved from the classroom to the workshop and learned two fundamental manufacturing processes: lathe turning (车工) and wire-cut EDM (线切割).
On the lathe, I turned a raw metal bar into a finished part with precise diameters and a smooth surface. I learned to read engineering drawings, set cutting speed and feed, and measure with a vernier caliper to 0.02 mm accuracy. My biggest lesson: on a lathe, patience is a safety rule — rushing ruins the part and endangers the operator.
Wire-cut EDM uses a thin moving wire and electrical sparks to cut metal with extreme precision. I programmed a cutting path from a CAD drawing and watched the wire trace my design through solid steel. It was my first time turning a digital design into a physical object — a small moment that made engineering feel real.
This course changed how I see "making things." Behind every precise part are careful calculations, steady hands, and respect for the process. These are exactly the qualities I want to bring to my future engineering career.