Finishing high School - want to learn CNC machining

[Micro_CNC]

I live in Grande Prairie, Alberta, Canada, And would like to know what kind of "Institution" I should look for to learn machining / CNC machining (leaning towards the later). I have looked around at my local college and University of Alberta and neither of them seem to know where i should look. My local college said to find a person to teach me, but i cant imagine that would look good on a resume, and the U of A simply said "No, We do not have any related courses available currently"

Any help or direction would be greatly appreciated.

Regards,
Matt Runhart.

[mitsue5]

Hi Matt, check out NAIT's programs. They have a varity of cnc courses and they have one full time program that gives you 2 years credit towards machining and enough theory to get you in the door to start as a cnc operator. From there absorb as much info as you can from working in the trade. There are a few shops in grande priarie that have cnc machines.
Darcy

[dedummer]

I guess it depends where you would like to start. If you want to learn to run/operate a CNC the first thing is to learn to be a machinist. If you want to be able to program one, you could probably learn by using some sort of CAD software. But I would highly recommend learning some manual machining first. The world is full of "Start Button" CNC operators that put parts in and never really understand the concept of making chips. No matter what you need to understand cutting tools.

[Paulo E.]

My suggestion would be to start with the basics. Blueprint reading and design concepts, that I would assume you can get that much on any tech school or college near you. I would also suggest you become extremely proficient on computers. There is also a good resource for reading technical info on current machining practices, trends and new technology. I'm not sure if I can post the link so I will so tell you the name of the website and you can look it up. There you may also be able to find the resources for local schools. Modern Machineshop online or mmsonline. Hope this helps and good luck in your new career.

Ps:Find a tech school or college that uses SolidWorks and not Autocad. Not that I have any software preferences but the facts are that industry wide Solidworks is the most used. No sense in starting with Autocad and then having to learn another software right of the bat.

[mc-motorsports]

Haas has an apprentiship program. You would have to move to California, could you deal with 350 days of sunshine a year? I know I can, especially where I live in ohio, we might get 90.
Anyway, if your willing to relocate, I think they have one opening right now, my friend was looking into it. It's a paid apprentiship, and probably better than any school honestly.
www.haasjobs.com

[tjwal]

Darcy
Also check out SAIT in Calgary. One would think that NAIT and SAIt would offer identical programs but apparently there are some differences.

JohnW

[Toschr]

Here is the website for the Haas technical education centers.
This web site lists many schools http://www.htecnetwork.org/
Some do a better job than others "let the buyer beware"
The two years schools are more likely to have instructors who have really worked in industry VS some one with a PHD, little real world experience
Most schools have an internet site check them out see what they have to offer and then arrange a visit. look at how complicated the parts are that they make.
here is a link to my website to give you something to compare other sites too.
http://www.alpenacc.edu/programs/machinetool/index.htm

Robert Tosch
CNC Instrutor
Alpena Community College

[Geof]

"Finishing high School - want to learn CNC machining"

This suggest you are young, have you had any experience working in a machine shop?

I have read through the various suggestions and your comment; "My local college said to find a person to teach me, but i cant imagine that would look good on a resume," and say forget all this and find some place that will take you on doing anything, sweeping the floor, deburring, parts loading, whatever grunt work is necessary. Forget about resumes, forget about design, forget about focussing on any specific aspect, get some experience in a machine shop; keep your eyes and ears open and buckle down and work.

In particular don't worry about 'what looks good on a resume'. I am a potential employer of someone like you both now and when you are experienced and I can assure you words on paper mean nothing to me. If I am employing someone without experience the important thing is how they buckle down and apply themself to the grunt work and how much interest and improvement they show. If I am employing someone who claims experience and skills they get thrown in front of a machine with a sketch or a part and told to duplicate it; and if they are still standing there two hours later scratching their head they get thrown out no matter what their resume says.

Once you have some real hands on experience and know this is the career for you then you can start looking into getting the 'book learning'.

[Paulo E.]

I guess that's one way to look at it. I think in todays world. The work your way up, is not necessarily the best. I would rather get some education and of course when you get out of school you will find out that you don't know as much as you think you do but at least you will have a good foundation. I would not hurt if you were working and going to school. With all due respect I don't think that by sweeping the floor he's going to learn much, specially in a field where new technology comes out every year and if you want to be at the cutting edge you need to constantly study. That is not to say you can not learn from your peers, however that is not a replacement for a decent education.

[ED209]

Deffinitely try NAIT www.nait.ab.ca, they spent a ton of money. It's all new equipment. They also have a 1 yr CNC Technican program. Fairview college also might have something.

Ed

[Geof]

Originally Posted by Paulo E. ... With all due respect I don't think that by sweeping the floor he's going to learn much, specially in a field where new technology comes out every year and if you want to be at the cutting edge you need to constantly study.... That is not to say you can not learn from your peers, however that is not a replacement for a decent education.

Correct, but somebody who thinks they are too good to sweep the floor for a few months and do the grunt work when needed does not have the correct attitude to get anywhere. There are far too many young people who think they have a good education but who in reality don't have a clue; the first thing a young person needs these days in my opinion is to recognise that they probably do not have a clue and they had better buckle down and start getting clued in. Nowhere did I say learning from peers can substitute for a decent education but I think that experience, a willingness to work hard no matter how grunty the task and a good education are all equally important. I agree that new technology comes out regularly but the old technology is still there so a solid grounding in it is needed.

[laszlozoltan]

I will suggest you try before you buy; that is to say, see if you can't find a machine shop to take you in and show you the ropes a bit before you spend 2 precious years learning a trade that you ultimately find is not your cup of tea. There are a lot of doctors, lawyers and accountants who went in it for the money but regret their decision and wish they did something else. your advantage is that it is fairly easy to get your foot in the door in a machine shop by youthful enthusiasm alone; then you have a chance to see if you can deal with the enclosed environment, noise, metal slivers and so on. If you like it you'll get all sorts of help and advice going on, but if you don't then again you can step out into something else before it's too late.