521: Actively Sealed Cryogenic Coupler

As technology continues to improve, engaging students in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) becomes more important. Manufacturing is growing in the U.S., creating more job opportunities. Automation teaches students how products come to life and how machines make work easier. It also shows them how engineers solve real-world problems. We designed a machine to help K-12 students learn about automation in a fun, interactive way. Our goal is to make engineering easy to understand and exciting to learn.

To do this, we improved a pin button-making machine. The machine had three main steps: gathering raw materials, assembling the pin button and delivering the final one to the user. Students started by drawing their designs, loading the materials and then pressing a button to begin. The machine did the rest by pressing and securing the pieces together, creating a pin button. This helped students see how machines made work easier and faster.

To make the machine more interactive, we added an arcade-style magnetic claw. Students used it to grab their finished button. The claw mimicked real-world robotics, letting students control the machine in a fun way. This made the experience exciting and added a game-like feature that kept students engaged.

This project teaches automation in a simple, fun way. It connects school lessons to real-world skills and shows how automation affects daily life. The applied learning builds confidence, improves problem-solving and sparks curiosity about engineering careers.