Machine Tool - CNC Technician Program Code 324441

Employment Potential

A graduate of the program will have the potential for employment in the following areas:

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) Technician/ Programmer Operator: sets up and operates computer numerical controlled machine tools working from blueprints and set-up sheets; sets up fixturing and tooling; produces and inspects parts; and edits CNC programs on CNC lathes and machining centers.

Jig and Fixture Apprentice/Trainee: lays out, fits, and assembles parts to make and repair cutting tools, jigs, fixtures, gauges, or machinist’s hand tools by analyzing specifications.

Machinist Apprentice/Trainee: sets up and operates a variety of machine tools; and fits and assembles parts to fabricate or repair machine tools and to maintain industrial machines.

Manufacturing Engineering Technician: supports production in a CNC machining environment.

With additional education and/or work experience, graduates may find other opportunities for employment.

. Journey Level Machinist
. Pattern Maker
. Mold Maker
. Tool and Die Maker
. CNC Programmer
. Machine Shop Foreperson/Supervisor

Program Outcomes

. Control multiple axis CNC machines.
. Use efficient production set up techniques.
. Use advanced CNC programming techniques.
. Control optional features of CNC machines.
. Design and construct jigs and fixtures.
. Use precision measuring practices.

Requirements for Program Entry

. Completed application.
. High school transcript or equivalent. (For a list of equivalents, go to www.nwtc.edu/gettingstarted.)
. Basic familiarity with Microsoft Windows.
. Students should have mastered basic math skills. For a description of basic math, see the Basic Education section of this catalog.
. As a requirement for program entry, an Academic Skills Assessment (Accuplacer) with appropriate benchmark scores is necessary. Program Benchmarks are: Reading Comprehension: 55; Arithmetic: 34; Sentence Skills: 60. However, we recommend a student receive the following scores to be successful in this program. Reading Comprehension: 75; Arithmetic: 66; Sentence Skills: 60. Remediation options are available to reach recommended scores. Equivalent assessment scores are acceptable. To learn more about these assessments and program benchmark scores, please contact a Counselor (920) 498-5444 or (888) 385-6982.

Curriculum

The Machine Tool - CNC Technician Technical Diploma is a two-year, four-semester program. Upon graduation, a student will have completed 68 credits.

FIRST SEMESTER

SECOND SEMESTER

THIRD SEMESTER

FOURTH SEMESTER

COURSE DESCRIPTIONS

These courses provide an opportunity for students to develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding required for employment in this field.

31-420-304 CNC FUNDAMENTALS 1 ...computer controlled milling machines, basic programming operations on computer aided manufacturing (CAM) systems, and fundamental programming of computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling machines. (Prerequisite: Basic Windows Proficiency)

31-420-345 MACHINE SHOP 1 ...shop safety, measuring tools/layout, power saw theory/operation, basic theory, operation of drilling machines, bench work, basic engine lathe operation, basic vertical, horizontal, CNC milling machine, surface grinder.

31-420-346 MACHINE SHOP 2 ...safety, measuring tools/layout, powersaw operation, drilling machine operation basic/theory and operation of engine lathes, basic theory/operation vertical/horizontal milling machines; CNC milling, lathe operation, surface grinder operations. (Corequisite: 31-420-345, Machine Shop 1)

31-420-347 CUTTING TOOL TECHNOLOGY ...tool materials, tool geometry, lathe tools, milling cutters, cutting speeds/feeds, drills, reamers, taps, threading tools, carbide inserts, and diamond, ceramic, Cermet and polycrystalline cutting tools.

31-420-348 PRECISION MEASUREMENT ...how to read/measure english and metric, rules, squares surface plates, micrometers, vernier calipers, height measuring instruments, gage blocks, angular measurement, go-no-go gages, comparison measurement; surface finish measurement. (Corequisite: 31-420-358, CNC Set Ups)

31-420-349 CNC FUNDAMENTALS 2 ...computer controlled milling machines, basic programming operations on computer aided manufacturing (CAM) systems, fundamental programming of computer numerically controlled (CNC) milling machines, and CNC turning centers. (Prerequisite: 31-420-304, CNC Fun 1)

31-420-356 MACHINE SHOP 3 ...shop safety, measuring tools/layout, power saws, drilling machine operation, intermediate engine lathed operation and vertical horizontal, CNC milling machine operation, theory/operating grinding machines, operating CNC turning centers. (Prerequisite: 31-420-346, Machine Shop 2)

31-420-357 MACHINE SHOP 4 ...shop safety, measuring tools, power saw operation, drilling machines, bench work and maintenance, advanced engine lathe operation, advanced vertical horizontal and CNC milling operation, grinding machine operation, and CNC turning centers. (Corequisite: 31-420-356, Machine Shop 3)

31-420-358 CNC SET-UPS ...CNC mill and lathe-tool holder selection, loading and unloading tools, work holding, setting part zero, fixture offsets, setting length and dial offsets, boring bars, and bar feeding. (Corequisite: 31-420-348, Prec Msmt)

31-421-352 BLUEPRINT READING/SKETCHING-MACHINE 1 ...fundamentals of sketching, orthographic projection, auxiliary views, sectional views, dimensioning, precision and non-precision measurement, and general print reading.

31-421-362 BLUEPRINT READING/SKETCHING-MACHINE TRADES 2 ...blueprint reading, tolerancing, surface finishes, fits (inch & metric), basic welding symbols, casting, stamping, gearing and CAM drawings, and basic geometric tolerancing and dimensioning. (Prerequisite: 31-421-352, Blueprint Reading Sketching-Machine Trades I)

31-422-359 METALLURGY FOR MACHINIST ...manufacture of iron and steel, basic composition of metals, metal identification, applied heat treating processes.

31-442-361 WELDING-MACHINE TRADES ...oxyacetylene, brazing, soldering, cutting and hardsurfacing, beads and types of joints, plasma arc cutting, gas metal arc, tungsten metal arc welding.

32-420-301 TOOL MAKING ...performing various machining, heat-treating, and assembly operations necessary to produce a tool or fixture to be used in a typical manufacturing process. (Prerequisite: Completion of 1st and 2nd semester courses)

32-420-303 TOOLING DESIGN ...interpreting tool and fixturing prints, designing a tool or fixture to be used in a typical manufacturing process. (Prerequisite: Completion of 1st and 2nd semester courses)

32-420-305 MACHINE APPLICATIONS-ADVANCED ...maintain/set-up/operate CNC wire/RAM EDM machines, simulate high-speed machining processes, apply superabrasive tooling, 4th axis milling operations, 3 axis turn/mill/drill applications, 3-D surface machining. (Prerequisite: Completion of 1st and 2nd semester courses)

32-420-307 MACHINING THEORY-ADVANCED ...electrical discharge machining (EDM), high speed machining concepts, rapid setup and quick change over procedures, abrasive waterjet, abrasive flow, chemical machining, laser and plasma, palletizing systems. (Prerequisite: Completion of 1st and 2nd semester courses)

32-420-308 METROLOGY ...ISO 9000 concepts, Statistical Process Control (SPC) theory and applications, coordinate measuring machine setup and applications, surface texture measurement concepts, and applications for geometric dimensioning and tolerancing (GD&T), optical comparator and high amplification techniques. (Prerequisite: 31-420-348, Precision Measurement)

32-420-309 CNC MACHINE MECHANICS ...CNC machine hydraulics, pneumatics, control, and drive systems.

32-420-310 CNC TECHNIQUES-ADV ...Mill 4th and 5th multi-axis programming, parametric programming, 3D surface machining, productivity optimization, lathe live tooling, and c-axis control. (Prerequisites: 32-420-335 CNC Turning Operation; 32-420-336 CNC Machining Center Oper; Corequisite: 32-420-342 CNC Fundamentals 4)

32-420-335 CNC TURNING OPERATION ...equipment overview, production planning, machine start-up, control panel operations, CNC control tools, operational codes and functions, operation modes and CNC code generation. (Prerequisite: Completion of 1st and 2nd semester courses.)

32-420-336 CNC MACHINING CENTER OPERATION ...equipment overview, production planning, machine start-up, control panel operations, CNC control tools, operational codes and functions, operation modes and CNC code generation. (Prerequisite: Completion of 1st & 2nd semester courses.)

32-420-337 CNC FUNDAMENTALS 3 ...basic AutoCAD, CNC production planning, advanced 2D programming, 3D surface programming, computer assisted CNC programming. (Prerequisite: 31-420-349, CNC Fundamentals 2)

32-420-342 CNC FUNDAMENTALS 4 ...CNC process modeling, 4th axis indexing, advanced CNC lathe programming, 4th axis CNC wire EDM programming, and CNC fabrication punch/burner programming applications. (Prerequisite: 32-420-337, CNC Fundamentals 3)

10-804-101 MATH 1-TRADES ...mathematical applications of fractions, decimals, ratios, proportions and percent, linear, area and volume measurement, practical plane geometry and solid figures. 2 cr.

31-801-385 COMMUNICATING-WRITING ...writing techniques, memos, letters, descriptions, instructions, and the job-seeking process. 1 cr.

10-804-102 MATH 2-TRADES ...numerical computation/calculations, algebra concepts, word problems, ratio and proportion, scientific notations, right triangle trigonometry, oblique triangles. (Prerequisite: 10-804-101 Math 1-Trades) 1 cr.

10-809-195 ECONOMICS ...scarcity, resources, alternative economic systems, growth, supply and demand, monetary and fiscal policy, inflation, unemployment, and global economic issues. 3 cr.