VMC Operating
A short, practical course for anyone who has to stand at the machine and make the part — operators, ITI and diploma students, and CAD/CAM trainees who want to see their programs actually cut metal.
What the course covers
You learn the machine itself: how to set it, load tools, find your zero, read the program on the control, and cut safely. We teach 3-axis machining — X, Y and Z moving together — which is what the overwhelming majority of production VMC work in this region actually is.
Because we run our own VMC job work, you train on live jobs rather than demo blocks, and you see a part go from program to finished component.
On the machine
- Machine and control basics — panel layout, modes, safe start-up and shutdown.
- Work and tool offsets — setting the job zero, measuring tool lengths, offset tables.
- Tooling — holders, collets, tool loading and the automatic tool changer.
- 3-axis machining — facing, pocketing, drilling, tapping, slotting and contouring.
- Reading G-code and M-code at the control, plus simple edits and corrections.
- Running a job — dry run, single block, feed override and first-part checking.
- Workholding — vices, clamps and simple fixtures, and how they affect accuracy.
- Safety and upkeep — coolant, chip clearing, daily checks and common alarms.
Who it suits
- Operators and trainees moving onto a VMC for the first time.
- ITI and diploma students who want a shop-floor skill quickly.
- CAD/CAM students who want to see their toolpaths run on a real machine.
- Company teams needing a short refresher run at their own unit.
Get a quote for your licences
Tell us which software you need, how many seats, and what your team machines or designs. We quote, supply, install and support — and reply within one working day.