Shaping Future Innovators: How Hawthorne High Fuels Engineering Careers with 3D Scanners

Hawthorne High School of Manufacturing & Engineering, located in Los Angeles, California, is more than just a typical high school program. Led by Program Coordinator Lucas Pacheco, it is a hub where young minds are immersed in advanced manufacturing and engineering design courses. With a hands-on curriculum covering multi-axis machining, additive manufacturing, and metrology, the program equips students with the foundational skills necessary for thriving jobs in industries like the aerospace and automotive sectors.

The program’s uniqueness lies in its project-based approach, allowing students to work on real-world applications. “Students participate in projects ranging from unmanned drones and sim racing to prototype car prototypes, animatronics, and cosplay, exploring both technical and creative aspects of engineering,” Lucas explained. “Our activities also include heritage conservation, such as digitizing artifacts for museums and scanning automotive parts for restoration and analysis. In addition, our after-school program forms dedicated student teams focused on areas like electric race car design, new drone technologies, product design, and e-sports.”

The challenge: Overcoming barriers to real-world engineering skills

“Our 3D measurement tools equip students with foundations that meet industry standards, preparing them for lines of work in product development and quality control. Through hands-on tasks like in-machine inspections, reverse engineering, and project documentation, students enjoy applied learning with quality assurance protocols used in aerospace and automotive industries,” said Lucas. “Our program allows them to build digital portfolios that showcase their technical ingenuity and project management knowledge, setting them apart for future employers or academic opportunities."

However, reaching this level of training and expertise wasn’t always easy. The program faced some serious challenges before bringing in Creaform’s advanced 3D measurement solutions. Teaching high school students how to process 3D scans wasn’t easy, especially with only a few computers able to run the necessary post-processing software. On top of that, the high school’s current 3D scanner was fragile, so Lucas and his team were always worried about it being damaged.

Another issue was using tracking dots or sprays on the items being 3D scanned, which made things even trickier—especially when working with valuable cars or artifacts. Getting owners to let students safely 3D scan these prized items meant they needed a system that could handle big, complex parts without a complicated setup.

The solution: 3D scanners elevate student training and engagement

Creaform’s MetraSCAN BLACK+™|Elite optical CMM 3D scanner for shop floor environments proved to be the perfect fit for Hawthorne High School of Manufacturing & Engineering’s specific needs. What sealed the deal? It integrates with Scan-to-CAD software to optimize meshes and prepare 3D scans for 3D printing.

Portable and featuring a robust design, the MetraSCAN BLACK+™|Elite lets students capture detailed data without using surface targets or sprays, allowing them to scan vintage cars and artifacts without altering their original conditions. With its ability to handle various textures and surface finishes, the 3D scanner was ideal for projects like the Historic Indy Car Challenge at the Long Beach Grand Prix, where students scanned iconic race cars from the 1970s and 80s.

The results: Discovering 3D scanners empowers students with industry-ready technical abilities

With Creaform’s 3D scanning technology, the Hawthorne High School of Manufacturing & Engineering program gained access to practical metrology technologies that reshaped how students learn engineering. Students now could perform in-machine inspections, reverse-engineer parts, and create digital records of their projects, building comprehensive portfolios showcasing their technical expertise.

Events like the Long Beach Grand Prix allowed students to demonstrate 3D scanners to the public, drawing attention to the program’s role in preparing them for their careers.

“Throughout the event, students operated 3D scanning tools to capture detailed digital models of these historic cars, learning how to handle 3D measurement tasks in a fast-paced environment. The digital replicas they produced are valuable for restoration, analysis, and long-term preservation, serving as important historical records for car owners,” Lucas mentioned. “We really just wanted the owners and prep shops to see the technology firsthand. 3D scanning of a whole car or vehicle has limited value. 3D scanning individual components aligns more with our ability to reverse engineer the part, manufacture it, and compare it with the original component. Our manufacturing labs have access to 5-axis machining and SLS 3D printing so that the students could complete the entire workflow.”

Hawthorne High School of Manufacturing & Engineering’s integration of Creaform’s 3D scanning solutions has opened up a world of possibilities for its students, offering a unique pathway into advanced manufacturing and engineering careers. With every project they undertake, they gain insights and skills that are both valuable and rare at the high school level. Apart from levelling up their know-how, the experience fosters curiosity, confidence, and a professional mindset—qualities that will serve them well in any future field they choose.