FANUC Introduces Certified CNC Training for Schools

FANUC America Corporation (Rochester Hills, MI) introduces the FANUC Certified Education CNC Training program, for schools in North America, designed for students to graduate with the knowledge and real-world skills to be productive right out-of-the-gate to run a CNC mill or lathe. This directly addresses the need in manufacturing for skilled CNC operators and programmers on industry’s most popular choice of control with the largest installed base.

The FANUC Certified Education CNC Training program ensures that students learn the skills that industry demands from FANUC certified instructors, using a FANUC approved curriculum on genuine FANUC CNC equipment. FANUC’s comprehensive curriculum teaches the critical aspects of CNC machine setup, operation and programming using industry-leading equipment and providing sufficient repetition to ensure effective learning.

Student certification requires passing both an academic and practical skills test to ensure competence. “FANUC is supporting industry’s need for qualified operators and programmers by providing a comprehensive CNC program that offers affordable and effective solutions to education”, states Dean Steadman, the CERT CNC education program manager at FANUC America.

With FANUC’s Certified Education CNC Training program, students will first write, edit and proof programs using 3D solid model animation in NCGuide software running on a PC. Using a USB memory stick, they then transfer the part program from NCGuide to the CNC on the machine either in the classroom and/or a workshop and then perform setup and testing.

If this is done on a portable Certified Education CNC Training Cart, when they get to the workshop, students are already experienced in setup and operation, so equipment is utilized more effectively, reducing the number of machines required.

With an aging workforce and production growth from reshoring, advanced manufacturing needs more trained employees for CNC setup, programming and operation. To be effective, students must learn critical skills on the industry’s leading CNC equipment and have sufficient repetition to ensure concepts and procedures are understood and committed to memory.

Building on the already successful FANUC Certified Education Robot Training, the addition of Certified Education CNC Training makes a comprehensive FANUC CERT manufacturing program available to schools; high schools, trade schools, community colleges and universities with manufacturing diploma programs or STEM curriculum.

“Enhancing the existing FANUC America Robotics training program with the CNC training program really takes our CERT program to the next level”, states Paul Aiello, the CERT Robotics education director at FANUC America. “As the global leader in automation, FANUC has incorporated over 30 years of expertise to design an industry training program that underscores our commitment to a true partnership with education and manufacturing.”

FANUC ROBODRILL CNC machines are ideal CNC workshop equipment to provide students adequate hands-on time. FANUC also works with the world’s leading machine tool builders and a variety of commodity machine tools that are ideal for education and are now available at education friendly prices.

A portable industrial quality CNC milling machine, manufactured by Levil Technology, brings the machine tool into the classroom at an affordable price. The Levil CNC Milling Certification Cart, with FANUC Series 0i Mate-MODEL D CNC, may be rolled into any available classroom and then kept in a storage area between classes, eliminating the need for a dedicated workshop. FANUC ROBODRILL CNC machines and Levil CNC Certification Cart are sold through FANUC Education Authorized Resellers.

“The success of our country’s economic competitiveness is a real concern, and it’s clear that STEM competencies are important drivers to business performance and success,” added Aiello. “As more companies incorporate robotics and CNCs into their operations, the demand for qualified workers is increasing. That’s a major reason why schools across the country continue to integrate FANUC training into their STEM curriculums.”

Learn more about the FANUC CERT program and see the FANUC ROBODRILL CNC machine, Levil Certified Education CNC Training Cart and FANUC’s Certified Education Robot Training Carts in action at IMTS 2014 in the Smartforce Student Summit.

www.fanucamerica.com