THE LOCKWOOD REPORT

ENGINES FUN AND OTHERWISE

June 20, 2012 Vol. 8, No. 13

Let’s start with a little fun news, but it’s actually more than simple amusement. Much more. Even though – no kidding — it involves LEGO.

Cummins has launched something it calls "a grassroots effort" to motivate and inspire students to excel in science, technology, engineering and math (STEM). It seems clear to me that we need all the help we can get in these disciplines, and that’s the case across North America. So the engine maker has stepped up with a new initiative that kicked off last week with the ‘Brickworld Build Team’, which was a bunch of STEM students and their teachers from three Chicago-area high schools. On June 16, together with a few Cummins engineers, they built a replica Cummins QSK95 engine entirely out of LEGO bits.

I believe that’s the biggest engine Cummins builds, a new 95-liter diesel putting out over 4000 hp. Not your average truck engine, this one is a 16-cylinder monster for use in high-hour, high-load applications like locomotives, ships, and ultra-class mine haul trucks. This new product line will soon extend to the 120-liter 20-cylinder QSK120, with output of over 5000 hp.

Can you hear the truck-racing boys talking to themselves? They’re all muttering, "I wonder…"

There will be other build teams doing the same thing at Cummins headquarters in Columbus, Indiana, on college campuses, and at career fairs throughout the year.

The Chicago team built its 4-foot by 3-foot by 2-foot replica at Brickworld, a LEGO enthusiast convention taking place at the Westin Chicago North Shore hotel.

“Our Brickworld STEM initiative will help connect Cummins engineers with STEM students and their families through interactive play and discovery,” said