CNC Technician - Technical Diploma
As a computer numerical control technician/programmer operator, you play an important role in today's modern manufacturing environments. You set up and operate computer numerical controlled machine tools, working from blueprints and set-up sheets. You set up fixturing and tooling, produce and inspect parts, and edit CNC programs on CNC lathes and machining centers. As a graduate of the CNC Technician program, you're also prepared for a career as a jig and fixture apprentice/trainee, or a manufacturing engineering technician. With additional education and/or work experience, you may become a journey level machinist, pattern maker, mold maker, tool and die maker, CNC programmer, or machine shop foreperson/supervisor.
Delivery
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Program Costs & Financial Aid
Tuition: $12,778, Books: $1,484, Supplies: $50
This program is partially eligible for financial aid.
Estimates based on in-state residency. Please visit the following URL to learn more about tuition and fees for this program. https://www.nwtc.edu/admissions-and-aid/paying-for-college/tuition-and-fees?ProgramCode=324441
Requirements for Program Entry
- Apply at www.nwtc.edu/apply.
- Submit the following to transcripts@nwtc.edu: High school transcript (or GED/HSED transcript) College transcript
- If your cumulative GPA is below 2.6, complete or submit a placement evaluation.
- Tip! Our admission advisors will assist you through every step. Have questions? Connect with NWTC Admissions at start@nwtc.edu or 920-498-5444.
Program Outcomes
- Apply basic safety practices in the machine shop.
- Interpret industrial/engineering drawings.
- Apply precision measuring methods to part inspection.
- Perform basic machine tool equipment set-up and operation.
- Perform programming, set-up and operation of CNC machine tools.
- Perform advanced CNC machining operations.
Curriculum
Students following the study plan will complete the CNC Technician technical diploma in the number of semesters shown.
First Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Second Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Third Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
Fourth Semester
8 Week 1
8 Week 2
- Curriculum Note: Students must earn a "C" or better in 10-804-301, Vocational Math A to enroll in 10-804-302, Vocational Math B.
Course Descriptions
This course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge and skills to apply the concepts of whole numbers, fractions, decimals, measurement, proportions, and percent to their career. No prerequisites needed.
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringCNC 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. (Prerequisite: Accepted into the CNC Machinist or CNC Technician program; Corequisites: 10-804-304, Vocational Math A; 31-420-363, CNC Milling and G-Code; 31-420-366, CNC/Machining Fundamentals 1)
Course Typically Offered: Contact an AdvisorFundamentals of sketching, orthographic projection, auxiliary views, sectional views, dimensioning, precision and non-precision measurement, and general print reading.
Course Typically Offered: Contact an AdvisorLearners will be introduced to and demonstrate the practice of machine shop safety rules and policies. Learners will be introduced to operations and production of parts on band saws, drill presses, conventional lathes and horizontal mills, conventional vertical and knee mills and layout tables. (Prerequisite: Accepted into the CNC Machinist or CNC Technician program; Corequisites: 10-804-304, Vocational Math A; 31-420-341, Machine Tool/CNC Setups; 31-421-352, Blueprint Reading/Sket-Machine 1)
Course Typically Offered: FallStudents gain skills that lead to success in college, employment, and life. Students should take this course in their first semester. (Pre-requisite: None.)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringThis course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding of shop safety around CNC turning centers, CNC turning machine control use, basic set up, and operation of CNC turning centers. (Prerequisite: 31-420-341, Machine Tool/CNC Set-Ups; Corequisite: 31-420-367, CNC/Machining Fundamentals 2)
Course Typically Offered: SpringShop safety around CNC milling machines, CNC basics, Cartesian coordinate systems, CNC milling controls and preparing basic G-Code milling programs.
Course Typically Offered: FallLearners will demonstrate the practice of machine shop safety rules and policies. Learners will be introduced to basic operations and production of machined parts on CNC mills and CNC lathes, precision grinders, conventional lathes and horizontal mills, conventional vertical mills and knee mills with various types of tooling. (Prerequisite: Accepted into the CNC Machinist or CNC Technician program; Corequisites: 31-420-366 CNC/Machining Fundamentals 1; 31-420-363, CNC Milling and G-Code)
Course Typically Offered: FallThis course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge and skills to apply the concepts of algebra, geometry, and trigonometry to their career. (Pre-requisite: Completion of 31-804-304 Vocational Math A with a "C" or better)
Course Typically Offered: Summer Fall SpringLearners will demonstrate the practice of machine shop safety rules and policies. Learners will develop intermediate level knowledge and produce more complex parts on CNC mills, lathes and machining centers, precision grinders, conventional lathes and horizontal mills, conventional vertical mills and knee mills and heat treat ovens. (Prerequisites: 31-420-367, CNC/Machining Fundamentals 2; Corequisites: 31-420-364, G-Code and CAM)
Course Typically Offered: SpringLearners will practice basic operations, setups, and operating CNC turning center controls while preparing turning programs with G-Code and conversational programming techniques. (Prerequisite: Accepted into the CNC Machinist or CNC Technician program; 31-420-365, Intro to CNC Turning; Corequisite: 31-420-368 CNC/Machining Fundamentals 3; 31-420-364, G-Code & CAM).
Course Typically Offered: SpringThis course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, and understanding of the manufacture of iron and steel, metals identification, and applied heat-treating processes, as well as cutting tool materials, tool geometry, and selection of proper speed and feed.
Course Typically Offered:Blueprint reading, tolerancing, fits (inch & metric), basic welding symbols, casting, and basic GD&T (geometric tolerancing and dimensioning). (Prerequisite: 31-421-352, Blueprint Reading Sketching-Machine Trades I)
Course Typically Offered: Contact an AdvisorLearners will demonstrate the practice of machine shop safety rules and policies. Learners will develop deeper knowledge of complex setups and measuring operations on CNC mills, lathes and machining centers, precision grinders, conventional lathes and horizontal mills, conventional vertical mills and knee mills and heat treat ovens. (Corequisites: 31-420-368, CNC/Machining Fundamentals 3; 31-421-362, Blueprint Reading/Sket-Mach 2; 31-420-365, Intro to CNC Turning)
Course Typically Offered: SpringEquipment overview, production planning, machine start-up, control panel operations, CNC control tools, operational codes and functions, operation modes and CNC code generation. (Prerequisite: 31-420-369, CNC/Machining Fundamentals 4)
Course Typically Offered: Contact an AdvisorEquipment overview, production planning, machine start-up, control panel operations, CNC control tools, operational codes and functions, operation modes and CNC code generation. (Prerequisite: 31-420-369 CNC/Machining Fundamentals 4)
Course Typically Offered: Contact an AdvisorISO 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: 31-420-362, Blueprint Reading/Sket-Mach 2)
Course Typically Offered: Contact an AdvisorThis course provides the opportunity for the student to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding to Create three dimensional drawings for CNC Milling Toolpaths, Apply CNC Toolpaths to three-dimensional CAD/CAM drawings, Create 3D Surface models in CAD/CAM software for 3D surface CNC toolpaths, Apply CNC toolpaths to 3D CAD/CAM surface models. (Prerequisite: 31-420-364, G-Code & CAM)
Course Typically Offered: FallLearners will demonstrate and practice wire electrical discharge machining (EDM), RAM EDM, high speed EDM drilling, and abrasive waterjet cutting technologies. (Corequisite: 32-420-323 CAM Programming)
Course Typically Offered: FallCNC production planning, advanced 2-D mill G-code programming, 3-D surface G-code programming for CNC milling, sub-programming for CNC milling, optimizing speeds and feeds for modern cutting tools used in CNC milling, advanced part setup techniques for CNC milling, utilization of part and tool probes for CNC milling. (Corequisite: 32-420-336, CNC Machine Center Operations)
Course Typically Offered: FallCNC production planning, advanced G-code programming of canned cycles for CNC turning, sub-programming for CNC turning, optimizing speeds and feeds for modern cutting tools used in CNC turning, advanced part setup techniques for CNC turning, utilization of tool probes for CNC turning. (Corequisite: 32-420-335, CNC Turning Operations)
Course Typically Offered: FallThis course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the skills, knowledge, process and understanding of parametric programming (macros), advanced tooling, sub programming, and productivity optimization. (Corequisites: 32-420-325, CNC Turning Operation-Adv; 32-420-324, CNC Machining Center Oper-Adv)
Course Typically Offered: Contact an AdvisorThe course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of 4 and 5-axis indexing & milling processes, as well as lathe live tooling & C-Axis programming and operation. (Prerequisites: 32-420-335, CNC Turning Operation; 32-420-336, CNC Machining Center; Corequisite: 32-420-328, Multi-Axis CAM Programming)
Course Typically Offered: Contact an AdvisorCNC process modeling, 4th axis indexing, advanced CNC lathe programming, 4th axis CNC wire EDM programming, and CNC fabrication punch/burner programming applications. (Prerequisites: 32-420-327, 3D CAM Programming)
Course Typically Offered: Contact an AdvisorThe learner will use various types of work holding and locating methods, produce a tool or fixture to be used in a typical manufacturing process. (Prerequisites: 32-420-327, 3D CAM Programming; 32-420-326, EDM & Waterjet Machining; 32-420-336, CNC Machining Center)
Course Typically Offered: Contact an AdvisorThe learner will become acquainted with the skills, knowledge and processes required to manufacture punch and die assemblies for a basic stamping die for short run production of piece parts. (Prerequisites: 31-420-366, CNC/Machining Fundamentals 4; 32-420-327, 3D CAM Programming; 32-420-326, EDM & Waterjet Machining; 32-420-324, CNC Machining Center Oper-Adv)
Course Typically Offered: SpringThis course provides the opportunity for the learner to develop the knowledge, skills, process and understanding of interpreting mold die prints, types of mold dies, mold plates, ejector pins, sprues, slides, cavities and cores, runners, gates, leader pins/bushings, selecting material to be molded and the functional design of a mold die. They will also understand the process of selecting the proper materials for mold plates and components. Will fit, assemble, trouble shoot, diagnose and run mold dies on a plastic injection molding machine. (Prerequisite: 31-420-366, CNC/Machining Fundamentals 4; 32-420-327, 3D CAM Programming; 32-420-326, EDM & Waterjet Machining; 32-420-324, CNC Machining Center Oper-Adv)
Course Typically Offered: Spring