CULLMAN, Ala. – On Thursday afternoon, a day after delivering a 3D printed model of “Walter,” Alabama’s official largest hailstone which fell during the massive Mar. 19, 2018 hail storm, to Cullman EMA, The Cullman Tribune’s W.C. Mann visited Cullman City Hall to present Mayor Woody Jacobs four hailstone models typical of the larger ones that fell in the city during that disastrous event.
These full-size models were produced from laser scans conducted by the Insurance Institute for Business and Health Safety (IBHS) by the Engineering Technology Department of Wallace State’s Division of Applied Technologies. The IBHS can use these scans to produce models that match not only the size, but also the weight, of actual stones for use in testing the durability of building materials.
A special thanks to Wallace State Engineering Technology Chair Todd Hardman and instructor Blake Ray for their work in the production of the first models, and to Dean of Applied Technologies Jimmy Hodges for allowing us access to his staff and facilities.
More of these models are being produced for presentation to other people and organizations in Cullman County in the near future, and Wallace State students will take over the setup and production procedures. Look for a story coming up on their efforts, as well as some other cool things happening in the Engineering Technology Department this spring.
