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CNC Manufacturing Essentials

Practical skills for machining and manufacturing

No Prerequisites

$2500

32 Hours

In Person Course

October 6th

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COURSE INFORMATION

Course Dates

CNC Manufacturing Essentials
Sept 15 - Nov 5
11am - 1pm
M,W
16 Sessions

CNC Manufacturing Essentials
Oct 6 - Nov 26
5pm - 7pm
M,W
16 Sessions

Topics

  • CNC Principles

  • CNC Controller software installation and configuration

  • Controller calibration

  • CAD part design concepts

  • Creating toolpaths

  • Basic pocket cutting

  • Material cutting rate (Feeds and speeds)

  • Runout

  • Surface finish

  • Work Holding

  • Tabbed contour cut parts

  • Two sided parts

  • Three dimensional parts

  • CAM Smoothing principles and testing

  • Mold making

  • Increasing surface quality

  • Multipart alignment

  • Creating tooling for parts

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Course Completion
You will be required to complete all labs in order to pass the course.

This course covers the essential principles and hands-on techniques for CNC operation and programming. Students will learn how to install and configure controller software, calibrate machines, and develop part designs using Fusion 360 and CATIA. The curriculum includes creating and optimizing toolpaths, executing basic and complex cuts, understanding feeds and speeds, and how to achieve high-quality surface finishes.

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Key topics include pocket cutting, two-sided and three-dimensional parts, multipart alignment, mold making, and tooling creation. Through practical exercises, participants will gain confidence in controlling CNC machines and producing precise, industry-ready parts.

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3030 CNC milling machine used in class

In class, each student will work independently on their own CNC machine. This approach ensures that everyone has dedicated time to learn and practice each step of the process - from setup and calibration to toolpath creation and milling - without sharing or waiting for access to a single machine. 

 

By working individually, students gain confidence and practical experience, allowing for focused learning and immediate application of skills on their own equipment.

We focus on G-code based CNC controller software, which is the industry standard for many manufacturing environments. Students will learn how to operate and program CNC machines using software similar to what is used in professional settings—such as PlanetCNC, Torchmate, Omax, and FlashCut. 

 

These systems rely on G-code, a universal language for CNC programming, ensuring that the skills developed are highly transferable across different machines and software platforms.

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To facilitate this, the control system for the hobby machine has been replaced with a PlanetCNC system, which better aligns with industry-standard workflows.

By working with professional control systems, students will develop skills that directly apply to a wide range of CNC machines in the industry, preparing them for real-world manufacturing environments.

This course offers several hours of hands-on programming and machining, providing students with practical experience essential for CNC operation in a professional environment. As part of a series of CNC courses, this program is designed to accumulate over 80 hours of comprehensive machining training, aligning with industry standards and job requirements in various manufacturing sectors.

Course Overview

Course Dates

CNC Manufacturing Essentials
Aug 26 - Nov 13
5pm - 7pm
T,Th
24 Sessions

Green Satin

You can register by phone between 9am and 4pm PDT
425-640-1840

Important - You will need a CTCLink ID number in order for us to help you over the phone or in person. You can follow the steps below to get one.

Fill out an application to Edmonds College:

Online Admissions Application

https://apply.ctc.edu/user
* This can take 1-5 business days to get your ID

A few notes for your application:
Enroll as: "First Year"
Program: "Professional Technical"
Term: "_____" (Season plus year, such as: Spring 2023)
Degree or Certificate: "Undecided - Professional Technical"

Once you have received your CTC Link ID number please let us know and we can get you registered for your class.

Click here to get notified of upcoming classes

Mailing List

Registration

Registering Online

Washington State colleges are now using CTCLink for all student services.

  • Follow the link below - login in or create an account

  • Go to "Student Homepage"

  • Choose "Manage Classes"

  • "Class Search and Enroll"

  • Choose Edmonds College and the quater (Control + F to search page)

  • Search for class name or number (Class Number will get you to where you want faster)
     

Online Registration Login Page - CTCLInk

NOTE - All our classes fall under "Special Topics: Manufacturing".

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