Morse High School graduate wants to revolutionize timber industry with automated sanding device - Press Herald

After spending 10 hours a time sanding woody beams by manus for his family’s timber framing concern successful Woolwich, 19-year-old Oscar Hennin was determined to find a amended alternate to the “boring, tedious task.”

Hennin, a 2021 Morse High School postgraduate present studying engineering astatine UMass Amherst, has spent the past 2 years processing an automated sander called SandTronix. The instrumentality attaches to a woody beam, automatically moving on the aboveground to evenly soil it. While sanding timber frames by manus tin instrumentality up to 100 hours, Hennin said the SandTronix tin get the occupation done successful little than 60, without the musculus fatigue.

“It was an invention calved retired of necessity but besides a tendency to make and person thing I could accidental I’m arrogant of,” Hennin said.

After entering a bid of entrepreneurial competitions astatine UMass Amherst this year, Hennin won $17,000 successful effect wealth to assistance money the aboriginal of SandTronix.

During the competition, Hennin was fixed 5 minutes to explicate to a sheet of judges the social, economical and technological interaction his invention would person connected the world.

Competition justice Steven Luby said helium was impressed by Hennin’s “working prototype and wide enthusiasm for solving problems.” He said utilizing the effect money, Hennin could perchance make a prototype that sands different ample level surfaces similar tabletops, making the SandTronix much versatile.

Alternatives to the communal manus sander oregon the SandTronix are drum sanders, typically utilized by ample lumber companies that outgo up to $100,000.

Going forward, Hennin said helium plans connected making a smaller prototype that is lightweight, durable and much versatile. He said the instrumentality volition beryllium afloat automatic, disassemblable and waterproof with accrued usage of metal. Unlike the drum sander, helium said his instrumentality volition lone outgo astir $3,000.

Hennin said determination is simply a marketplace for SandTronix due to the fact that the planetary request for sanding is rising and the manufacture of durable goods is increasing by 4% each year.

Hoping to person a caller prototype acceptable by the extremity of winter, Hennin said helium volition connection escaped demonstrations to section timber framers and inquire for feedback.

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