The Importance of CNC Machining in Manufacturing

Computer Numerical Control (CNC) machines are a vital part of today’s manufacturing industry. Fast, accurate, and adaptable, these machines—and those with the CNC machinist training to operate them—are critical to multiple important industries in the state. CT’s manufacturers are leaders in making products that affect the world, including jet engines, helicopters, and submarines. The aerospace, medical, and military industries all benefit on both a large and small scale from skilled, trained CNC machinists.

Gone are the days of the gritty factory environment. Today, CNC machinists combine elements of mechanical design, technical drawings, mathematics, and computer programming know-how in a clean, professional environment. In Connecticut, there are approximately 4,350 manufacturers employing over 163,300 workers. And in 2012, Connecticut reported the highest average annual pay for manufacturing employees in the nation, with an average salary of $64,366, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

In Connecticut, companies like Pratt & Whitney, Hamilton Sundstrand, and Sikorsky Aerospace all employ thousands of workers and contract out to hundreds of manufacturers for precision-machined parts that end up all over the world. And companies like Pratt & Whitney and Electric Boat contract with the Department of Defense, who require precise parts to be machined to exacting specifications from high quality metals. A skilled CNC machinist can transform a block of formless steel into a working part for one of the most advanced aerospace industries in the nation.

The jobs are out there for young, talented individuals looking for a hands-on, fulfilling career! And a CNC machine training can help those individuals find a career that’s both practical and creative. With proper CNC machining training, machinists produce an enormous array of manufactured goods and work with all manners of materials, including the plastics and metals common to Connecticut’s manufacturing industry. Skilled CNC machinists track a product through each phase of its creation, from an initial concept to a fully realized item.

Goodwin College offers CNC Machining programs at certificate and associate degree levels. Both integrate an understanding of the manufacturing processes, knowledge of materials, and a working comprehension of manufacturing mathematics. You’ll also gain competence in technical drawings, specifications, and computer-aided machining.

Combined classroom instruction and hands-on operation of Goodwin’s CNC 3-axis milling and turning machines will provide you with the knowledge and machining experience you’ll need to be successful in the industry. In this CNC machining degree program, you will also gain an in-depth understanding of advanced Mastercam skills needed for programming tool location, motion, and feeds and speeds.

Interested in learning more about Goodwin College’? Learn more today by calling 800-889-3282 or visiting www.goodwin.edu/makers. You can also check out all of our programs to see why we’re a leading manufacturing school in CT! You can also interact with us on Facebook or Twitter!