Center for Applied Technology (CAT)

About the Center

The Center for Applied Technology (CAT) opened for classes in January 2019. The center prepares students for careers in industrial technology education, manufacturing, construction and safety management, drafting, engineering, and computer sciences. The center features new tech-savvy classrooms and state-of-the-art instructional labs for drafting and design, manufacturing, welding, power and energy, construction and woodworking, robotics, computing and networking, and mechatronics (technology combining electronics and mechanical engineering). These labs provide real hands-on learning experience with equipment and technology that directly transfer to jobs in the industry.

The CAT also provides Northeast Nebraska with a facility to support management training for industry, encourages ongoing employee development, fosters small business entrepreneurs interested in manufacturing, and engages in applied research with industry. It also serves as the career academy for Northeast Nebraska school districts, introducing thousands of high school students to careers in industrial technology.

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Labs and Classrooms

Construction / Woods Lab

The construction and woods lab is located on the main floor of the CAT building and is used by industrial technology majors. The lab features all the tools needed for construction and carpentry jobs. Equipment includes new band saws, miter box saw, table saw, jointer, lathe, surface planer, and a Swift CNC Router.

Equipment / Features:

Swift CNC router
Pneumatic clamping table
Sanding tables
Dual drum sander
Disc sander
Drill presses
Panel saw
Miter box saw
Band saws
Table saws
Lathes
Jointer
Routers
Surface planer
Work tables
Spray booth

For degree programs in:
Construction Management
Drafting and Design
Industrial Technology
Manufacturing Management
Safety Management
Skilled and Technical Sciences Education (industrial technology education)

Manufacturing / Metals Lab

The manufacturing and metals lab is used by students to design, set up, and operate CIM cells and learn about mass production - from customer orders and inventory control, through automated manufacturing of materials, and into finished parts to quality inspection and final delivery. The lab features features sheet metal equipment and a computer integrated manufacturing (CIM) cell. Students design, setup, and operate CIM cells and learn about mass production, inventory control, and quality inspection.

Equipment / Features:

CIM cell
ACER surface grinder
CNC and manual mills
CNC and manual lathes
Horizontal and vertical band saws
Plastics injection molder
Drill presses (large and small)
Ironworker machine
Jump shear
Sheet metal table with box and pan brake, seamer, and form roller
Planishing hammer
Bender
Grinders
French wheel
Rotational molds
Metal brakes
Metal work tables

Networking Lab

The networking lab is used by students in the computer information systems and computer science majors. Multiple project pods with rollable networking racks allow students to design and simulate various network environments. The server room contains state-of-the-art servers for studying virtual environments, cloud computing, and more. Special project pods support RaspberryPi and Arduino boards for more hands-on experiments in cluster computing, mobile development, and machine learning.

For degree programs in:
Computer Science
Networking and Cyber Security
Programmer/Analyst
Web Specialist

Power and Energy Lab

The Power and Energy Lab is located on the main level of the CAT building and is used by students for classes in energy, power, and transportation systems, as well as electronics. Lessons in this lab may include small engines, hydraulics, and pneumatics. The lab is used by students in the manufacturing management or skilled and technical sciences education programs.

Robotics Lab

Located on the second floor of the CAT building, students learn the programming fundamentals required for the different uses of robotics in math, computer science, computer information systems, skilled and technical sciences education, and the manufacturing management programs. In the Robotics Lab, you'll even get to build robots and turn them loose in a practice arena to prepare for regional and national robotics competitions.

For degree programs in:
Applied Mathematics
Computer Science
Manufacturing Management
Networking and Cyber Security
Programmer/Analyst
Skilled and Technical Sciences Education
Web Specialist

Welding Lab

This lab is used by students in the Technology and Applied Science Department for the industrial technology programs and skilled and technical sciences education program. The lab provides an environment for students to develop their welding skills and learn different techniques.

Equipment / Features:

Fronius® MIG and TIG welders
CNC JobMaster® Plasma Cutter
Miller Spectrum® 625 Plasma Cutter
Acetylene welders
Downdraft tables
Sand mulling machine
Grinder
Chop saw table
Heat treat furnace
Melting furnace
Mold-making bench
Pouring pit / foundry

Computer Labs

Computer labs are located throughout the CAT building and feature dual monitors at each computer station and several overhead monitors for classroom instruction and screen sharing. For industrial technology majors, computers feature the latest CAD software and labs contain multiple 3D printers. For students in computer science and computer information systems, dual monitors are especially helpful while learning new programming languages.

“As a drafting major, I think the new CAT building is remarkable. There was a lot of time invested in the layout, and they did an amazing job with every thought and detail. Before the CAT building, we only had one monitor to work on. Now that we have two, it's a lot easier easier and faster to complete our work. Another new feature of the CAT building are the monitors around the room. The professor can project his screen onto the monitors for everyone to see. This is nice because everyone is able to see clearly what he is showing us. We students can also set it up to have our own monitors project onto the screens to present or do whatever we need.”

Brittney Unger

Degree Program: Drafting and Design
Hometown: Norfolk, Neb.