The construction Lab at TLA offers scholars the opportunity to learn real world construction trades. Tying in job site readiness with employability skills the Construction Lab has a variety of state of the art construction equipment ranging from Saw Stop Table saws to CNC routers with tool changers and everything scholars need in between. 

Safety First 

Wood working 

When TLA was opened we were blessed with a donation from Milwaukee Tool. This donation allowed each lab to be outfitted with proper tooling for all scholars. 

The Construction Lab is outfitted with 4 work tables with 12 lockers underneath. These work tables get plenty of use by all the classes. Ample wall locker storage accounts for 40 more storage lockers. 

The Construction Lab is outfitted with a variety of drills, impacts, specialty drills, hammer drills and even drywall drills to teach scholars that there is a correct tool for each job. Centered in the wall is a Milwaukee Panel Saw for safe cuts by our middle school scholars. 

The Construction lab has a variety of cutting tooling. Ranging from left and right circular saws, jig saws, reciprocating saws to everyone's favorite the flush cut saw. Scholars can choose from a variety of saws to perform safe tasks. 

The TLA Tech Ed Team worked with local companies when designing the lab to create a built in miter saw table that folds down to save work space, also incorporating ample storage underneath for larger projects and scrap wood. 

TLA just started to offer woodworking courses as scholar interest have expanded beyond the construction field. The center of this lab is equipped with a jointer, planer, drum sander, drill presses, band saws and a Saw Stop table saw. All tooling has its own dust collection and dedicated breaker. 

The center of the Construction Lab offers a work space that scholars can utilize to build modules, sheds, and countless other projects. 

TLA Construction classes exposes scholars to many disciplines within Construction. One being HVAC. Scholars learn to layout, sheer and join metal using rivets, and spot welds. Learning the metal forming skills needed to join the HVAC industry. 

The Construction Lab is home to a 4'x8' Forest Scientific CNC router with ATC and Vacuum Table. Scholars utilize the CNC for both Construction Class and CNC Class. Scholars design and program the CNC to complete a wide array or projects for multiple classes. Scholars even use the CNC to help the drama department create sets. 

The Welding Lab at TLA has six welding booths equipped with Miller Multimatic Welders to allow scholars to learn all four welding processes. The lab includes grinders, bandsaws, drill mils, belt sanders a Rhino jig and fixture table, and a 1500 Watt Fiber Laser. With classes capped at 15, the welding lab is a place where scholar's can get plenty of booth time all the while earning college credits from Black Hawk Technical College. 

The welding lab consist of five welding booths and a center welding Jig and Fixture table for teacher demonstrations and large build ups. Each booth is supplied with 3 gasses needed to weld all four welding processes.  Welding classes do not exceed 15 scholars at a time. Strategic planing of projects allow for 3 schoalrs to a booth per class. 

The welding lab has a 1500 watt fiber laser. Scholars learn to program the laser in Welding 1 where they design thier own fire pit. Welding 2 scholars make Rocket Stoves and Small Grills. Welding 3 Scholars make a Wood Fire Pizza oven, and in Welding 4 scholars design thier own metal fabrication project. The laser is a fundamental tool in the Lab. 

The Welding lab has a multitude of metal forming tools. The Lab houses a metal tube bender for fabricating the SMV race frames, as well as metal rollers, forming steaks, pipe nothers and many more metal fabrication tools. 

The welding lab has a Ellis metal cutting bandsaw. Scholars use this tool to cut metal to length in all welding and metal fabrication classes. 

The welding lab has an Ellis Drill Mill and Ellis Belt Sander. Scolars use these tools in Welding and Metal Fabrication classes. 

Scholars start using the sheet metal shear and  box and pan brake starting in 6th grade. Scholars learn to form and bend metal in Welding Classes and Construction Class. 

Scholars built a grinding table for dust and debree to fall through, it also serves as a plasma cutting table. 

Portable storage racks are used to store projects. These racks can be moved easily in-between labs to free up space for larger projects through out the school day

Scholars on The Lincoln Academy's SMV Team built the carts that hold the cars, as well as the back tool bench. Both projects were the first task of the class and taught scholars how to build something square. 

Tormach has been a huge proponent of The Lincoln Acadmey. The lab is equipped with two 100MX mills, one 15L Slantpro lathe, two 8L lathes, and 10 desktop XS Tech routers. 

The lab is modular in that everything can be moved to make space for whatever project is being worked on for the day.  The XS Tech Desktop routers can even be moved to a storage rack to clear off work table space in a jiffy. 

The Advanced Manufacturing Lab is home to TLA's SMV Team. SMV stands for "Supermileage Vehicle". The team fabricates the entire car from scratch using the equipment in this lab. 

The Robotics Lab is surrounded by glass and allows scholars walking through the halls to see the cool stuff they are working on. 

Outside of the Robotics and Engineering Lab is an Idea Pod, where scholars can go to work on group work and innovate ideas through collaboration. 

The Engineering Lab at The Lincoln Academy is equipped with 3D printers, laser engravers, drill presses, band saws, sanders, and a comprehensive selection of hand tools that enable scholars to design, fabricate, and solve complex engineering challenges. The lab is intentionally designed with a modular layout to accommodate large-scale projects and collaborative work. Additionally, the space includes a dedicated testing tank for remotely operated vehicles (ROVs). The Engineering Lab is further supported by a full range of electronics resources, including microcontrollers, soldering stations, and other specialized electronic tools and equipment. 

Plastic Bender 

Dremel 3D printers