Creating innovation from Kumamoto through manufacturing
Sojo University MONOZUKURI Innovation Center (SUMIC) was established to support the enthusiasm of students for manufacturing.
SUMIC has the latest equipment and works in coordination with entrepreneur education and active learning.
This is a place where students can practice manufacturing with freewheeling thinking and expand their challenges to new ideas and technologies any time they want.
Place created for manufacturing
SUMIC consists of an assembly space of about 900 m² and a machining space of about 1100 m², with a variety of newly-installed equipment and spaces required for assembly and machining. Regardless of their department or faculty, any student can freely use this facility to make artworks and parts for experiments once s/he takes safety education and training. The facility also has a section where students can enjoy manufacturing with their friends.
Machining space
Laser beam machine
This is a machine for cutting and engraving materials such as acrylic resin, paper, and wood based on the data designed by CAD (Computer-Aided Design). Laser processing is possible for any design. With this machine artworks created by students of the Faculty of Art as well as prototypes, signboards, and logo designs created by students of the entrepreneur activity club, SOJO Ventures, can be produced.
Panel saw
This is a large woodworking machine, often used by timber companies, that cuts wooden boards and squared timbers in a straight line. This machine can cut wood up to 3m in length with high accuracy. It is useful for a wide range of manufacturing including production of architectural and artistic items as well as for extracurricular activities.
Lathe
This is a machine for cutting a cylindrical workpiece while it rotates. It is used to develop the basic skills of practical works in mechanical engineering. SUMIC has enough lathes for lessons, and the machine can be used by every two or three students. Students from departments other than the Faculty of Engineering can also use the machines provided they have received safety training and have a technician present.
Milling machine
This is a machine which cuts the surface of metal materials into flat surfaces, grooves, gears and other shapes while rotating a blade called an end mill. This is one of the indispensable machines for material processing in industry. SUMIC has also introduced the latest milling machine that can set the tool movement amount on the order of micrometer.
Realize your ideas from your fingertips
SUMIC is a place where students can concentrate on manufacturing. When students from various fields interact with and stimulate each other across the boundaries of faculties and departments through manufacturing, something that has never existed may happen. These synergistic effects are expected at SUMIC. Everyone is free to shape the ideas that come from classes, extracurricular activities, and group activities. Please feel the joy of realizing your ideas from your fingertips at SUMIC.
Director of SUMIC
Ryoji KITADA, Professor of Department of Mechanical Engineering, Faculty of Engineering
Events held at MONOZUKURI Innovation Center
- Sojo drone contest and drone operation class
About 40 people in 7 teams, including students, teachers of SILC, and other university staff members participated in the competition. A time race competition and a mission clear competition were held, and unique drones designed by each team competed. - Accessory contest
The accessory contest was held at SUMIC, and included 219 entrants. Four accessories with different characteristics were commended from various entries with different concepts, manufacturing methods, and materials. - Building Lego blocks and IoT workshop
20 students from various departments including students from Thailand, participated in the event. Creative works such as a snow-removing vehicle, disaster relief robot, a Thai taxi “Tuk-Tuk”, Kumamoto Castle and a Thai temple were constructed. - Radio control car competition
A radio control car competition is held every year as part of the Machine Manufacturing Practice class for 3rd-year students in the Department of Mechanical Engineering,. Students from each team of about four people poured their skills and knowledge they have learned from specialized subjects into one car.