Siemens offers paths to hands-on, online CNC learning

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Hands-on learning sessions at a Siemens training center such as this one in Elk Grove Village, Illinois, provide instructor-led experience participants can apply to power up their machine tool career. (Courtesy: Siemens)

Siemens Technical Application Center hands-on and online learning to bring growth opportunities to  programmers, operators, and maintenance professionals.

Participants can maximize results with a Siemens CNC to become indispensable on the shopfloor and in their careers. Owners can maximize ROI in all areas of investment: machines, people, and operations.

CNC professionals from around the world are taking advantage of Siemens free training paths: hands-on and online. As an operator, users can gain the skills to maximize the output of their machine, increase their value to the business, and further their career. Owners can skill up their staff to generate more shopfloor revenue.

“At the Siemens Technical Application Center, our goal is the education of CNC operators, programmers, and maintenance professionals,” said Randy Pearson, technical application center manager for Siemens. “We aim to enhance and expand the knowledge and capacity of our students on SINUMERIK controls. If you want to become a power user, we have the courses for you. We also provide essential training to machine tool builders, importers, and dealers.”

Through a team of knowledgeable Siemens instructors, participants can gain first-hand experience working on the types of machines they will encounter in their own shop. A comprehensive schedule guides users on the journey from introductory classes through advanced 5-axis programming.

“Every month we provide level one courses on milling and turning,” said Pearson. “Level two courses explore advanced G-Code programming, while level three focuses on multi-axis programming.” Classes are taught by Siemens machining experts, bringing a wealth of real-world experiences to bear, using several different teaching methods including:

  • SINUTRAIN PC-based classroom sessions.
  • Simulator-based classroom training.
  • Hands-on machining using industry leading brands.

In addition, service and maintenance classes are available to teach personnel how to perform PLC and drive diagnostics, check the topology of the system, commission, and troubleshoot the system.

Online learning is available when and where participants need it. Getting to a Siemens training center may not always be possible. But there are still plenty of options. Live, online courses are presented monthly, which include insightful question and answer sessions. Courses are archived and available on-demand, so users can access them anywhere, anytime. The ever-growing CNC online learning resources are updated with new and fresh courses often. Plus, for larger groups, custom online training sessions are available.

“Our online campus, featuring dozens of technical webinars, is located at usa.siemens.com/cnc4you,” said Chris Pollack, virtual technical application center manager for Siemens. “All of the topics that are covered in our hands-on classroom courses — such as variable-based programming, logic-based programming, and multi-axis milling and turning — are covered online as well.”

“We have a strategy for how we want people and manufacturing to excel,” said Pollack. “You may begin with a five-minute how-to video as an introduction. You will then be motivated to immerse yourself in a webinar or two and really start digging into a topic. You can follow that up by enrolling in a self-paced learning module or an instructor-led class to start engaging hands-on with the technology at a high level.”

The curriculum not only provides hands-on experience using actual Siemens CNCs, but it focuses on many of the trends that are shaping today’s machining industry.

Courses are separated into four main categories: milling, turning, general operations, and maintenance/service. These categories provide everything programmers, operators, and maintenance staff need to advance their careers, and everything a shop owner needs to turn their shop into a competitive powerhouse.

Machine shops are finding that today’s digital-savvy workforce more readily interacts with controls that speak their digital language. The SINUMERIK CNC platform is based on a modern, app-like interface that is easily engaged shop-wide, from 3-axis all the way to full 5-axis machining.

Machine shops are addressing fierce competitive time and cost pressures. Training staff on mixed-technology machines that do the work of two or more machines simplifies scheduling, reduces setups, and accelerates production. SINUMERIK CNC simplifies the integration of automated processes, such as robotics, that allow you to do much more, in much less time.

MORE INFO  www.siemens.com or usa.siemens.com/cnc4you