Machining Program

Learn the skills and earn the credentials for an entry-level career as a machinist technician in manufacturing. Students with no previous Machining experience should start with Machining Fundamentals I & II, taken together. These are a pre-requisite for taking Milling or Turning. To be able to take Advanced Machining, students must have taken all four Machining courses.

Machining Fundamentals I & II

Machining Fundamentals I and II are foundational for the study of metals formation methods, processes, related equipment, and tools of industry. It requires the student to understand shop safety practices, job planning, math and measurement for precision machining, interpreting drawings, machining feeds and speeds, precision measuring instruments, layout tools and procedures, hand tools and bench work, metal cutting saws and drilling machines. Students must be registered for both Machining Fundamentals I and II.

Certifications

Students completing the course will sit for the following National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) exam: Measurement, Materials & Safety (Fundamentals I), Job Planning, Benchwork & Layout (Fundamentals II)

More information on NIMS Credentialing

Students can advance to Machining: Milling Operator and/or Machining: Turning Operator.

Student Responsibilities

• Steel-toes boots or shoes. Estimated cost: $40.00
• Safety glasses with side shields. Estimated cost: $10.00
• Basic calculator. Estimated cost: $10.00

Course Requirements

• All students must be 18 years old
• Basic math including fractions, decimals, conversions, some geometry and trigonometry are part of the course curriculum.
• Students must be registered for both Machining Fundamentals I and II.

Machining: Milling Operator

The Machining – Milling Operator course is a hands-on course where you will learn the fundamentals of using a milling machine in a manufacturing environment. You will learn part set up, squaring parts, facing, drilling, taping, boring, cutting keyways, tramming, position and perpendicularity verification, work holding concepts and devices, offset adjustments, machining controls, establishing XY Zero and other operations as well as basic CNC program editing. Instruction will also include applicable shop safety, precision measurement, and how to interpret drawings including dimensioning and tolerances.

Certification

Students completing the course will sit for the following National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) exam:

• CNC Milling: Operator, Level 1
• Manual Milling Skills, Level 1

More information on NIMS Credentialing

Students can advance to Advanced Machining if they’ve also completed Machining: Turning Operator.

Machining: Turning Operator

The Machining – Turning Operator course offers instruction on both manual and CNC operated lathes. You will learn facing, turning, drilling, turning angles and other operations as well as basic CNC program editing. Also included in instruction is machining math, Blueprint reading, and dimensioning and tolerancing. Credentials: Students completing the course will sit for the NIMS (National Institute of Metalworking Skills) Level 1 Turning Operator exam. Successful completion of the course and credential, along with completion of the Machining-Milling course and credential will qualify students for entry-level machinist jobs with a beginning salary of $15-$20 per hour.

Certification

Students completing the course will sit for the following National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) exam:

• CNC Turning: Operator, Level 1
• Turning Operations: Turning Between Centers
• Turning Operations: Turning Chucking Skills

More information on NIMS Credentialing

Students can advance to Advanced Machining if they’ve also completed Machining: Milling Operator.

Student Responsibilities

• Steel-toes boots or shoes. Estimated cost: $40.00
• Safety glasses with side shields. Estimated cost: $10.00
• Basic calculator. Estimated cost: $10.00

Course Requirements

• All students must be 18 years old
• Prerequisites: Machining Fundamentals I & II

Advanced Machining

The Machining – Advanced course is a culmination of the VWCC Workforce Machining Program series. Emphasis is placed on CNC G-Code and Conversational Programming. Includes Setup and Operations to produce parts using ProtoTrak Mills and Lathes, Haas Mini Mill with Automatic Tool Changer, and Fanuc and Haas Simulators. Credentials: Students completing the course will sit for the NIMS (National Institute of Metalworking Skills) credentials CNC Milling: Programming Setup & Operations and CNC Turning: Programming Setup & Operations.

Tuition Includes

• Textbook, workbook and exam study guide provided for use during the length of the course (these are on loan from VWCC Workforce)
• NIMS’ exam costs
• All materials needed for milling including metals, lubricants, cutting tools and similar
• Tooling-U online access

Certification

Students completing the course will sit for the following National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) exam:

• CNC Milling: Programming Setup & Operations
• CNC Turning: Programming Setup & Operations

More information on NIMS Credentialing

Student Responsibilities

• Steel-toes boots or shoes. Estimated cost: $40.00
• Safety glasses with side shields. Estimated cost: $10.00
• Basic calculator. Estimated cost: $10.00

Course Requirements

• All students must be 18 years old
• Prerequisites: Machining Fundamentals I & II, Milling, and Turning Operator