HATBORO-HORSHAM STUDENTS BUILD PINBALL GAMES AND SCORE A BIG HIT

Every year Hatboro-Horsham High School Technology Education Teacher Nick Pompei and his Manufacturing & Engineering students brainstorm a unique toy to design and build as a class project. The completed toys are donated to Toys for Tots. Since 2007, the students have been coming up with functional and elaborate ideas. This year, the class took on an ambitious project…designing and building four custom wooden pinball games with a Philadelphia theme

For the first time ever, the class used 3D printing technology to make the custom Philadelphia-themed pieces for the game. The students also used a Saw Stop table saw, which was purchased with a Hatboro-Horsham Educational Foundation grant.

“Having students design and make something from start to finish is always the goal of my curriculum. The experience really engages students. The new table saw allowed students to cut their own pieces and students experienced the true potential of a 3D printer by making parts that went into actual use,” said Mr. Pompei.

The class handed off the pinball games to Toys for Tots in early December.