Mastercam Announces 4th Annual "Innovator of the Future"

Contest winner designs exceptional motorcycle gas cap.

CNC Software, developer of Mastercam CAD/CAM software, has announced the winner of its 2008-2009 IOF (Innovator of the Future) competition: Justin Amos, a student in the Advanced Manufacturing Program at Vincennes University (Vincennes, Indiana).

Mastercam’s Innovator of the Future competition helps introduce students to real-world manufacturing by challenging them to put their own creative twist on a specific part to be judged by a special guest from the manufacturing industry. In the 2008-2009 competition, students created one-of-a-kind motorcycle gas caps for guest judge Jim Quinn of Orange County Choppers. Prizes were a major motivation for students with the winner receiving a $1,000 scholarship and a trip to Newburgh, New York to tour the Orange County Choppers world headquarters.

It was clear that the entrants put their best efforts into their entries, displaying exceptional aesthetic and mechanical creativity. In the documentation accompanying their entries, the students each explained how the competition helped them to improve their Mastercam and machining skills. With many excellent entries, competition was fierce. Justin Amos was chosen as the winner, with a cap featuring an F-16 soaring over a compass design with a spinning brass arrow. As a pilot, Justin has always enjoyed the jet-themed bikes made by the OCC team.

When asked his opinion about the IOF competition, Justin enthusiastically replied, “It’s a great contest!”

As a student who often struggled to find motivation in school, Justin found that the IOF competition inspired him to go above and beyond. He enjoyed that the competition provided certain parameters but also gave him a lot of room for creativity. This freedom to design a part that appealed to him is what motivated him and excited him about school.

While the $1,000 scholarship will undoubtedly help to defray educational expenses, Justin really enjoyed his trip to tour the Orange County Choppers shop. Lead Engineer, Jim Quinn, took a few hours out of his busy schedule and gave him an in-depth behind-the-scenes tour focusing on the machine shop complete with numerous anecdotes about projects and builds. Best of all was the opportunity to spend some time with Jim Quinn. Justin hopes to one day work in a custom hot rod shop and was very interested to hear about what Jim’s day-to-day life at OCC is like.