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Learn the Skills to Advance Your Career in Machining or Manufacturing

We've collaborated with dozens of manufacturers in Northern Colorado to develop a program that equips students with the foundational knowledge, modern techniques and technical skills needed for a successful career in machining.

Our Non-Credit Training program offers evening or weekend classes. Students who take this non-credit machining program prefer this option because:

  • You can keep your day-job while completing training.
  • The fast-track modules cover all the bases in a fast-paced environment that you can immediately apply to the job.
  • Students can use our free, open labs on Fridays to ask questions, get help, or finish a project.  
  • Students don't have to worry about grades going on their academic record. You can focus on your machinist training instead of your grade.
  • Training costs at our machining school are the same whether you're considered a Colorado resident or out-of-state student.

Still unsure which program is right for you? Take a look at this resource to help you choose between two machinist training programs.  

Non-Credit Machining Classes

Your fast-track path in machinist training will depend on how much experience you have in the manufacturing and machinist trades.

  • The Introduction and Intermediate modules below are recommended for students just beginning their career in machining.
  • The Advanced, Mastercam and Specialized and Multi-Axis modules are geared for machinists with three to five years of experience.
  • If you are currently a machinist looking to advance your career and feel you already have basic skills, contact us about testing out of the introductory-level machining classes.

Introduction to Precision Machining

This class is geared to job seekers with very little or no experience, who want to begin a career in machining or the manufacturing industry.

Location:

FRCC Boulder County Campus
Center for Integrated Manufacturing
1351 S Sunset Street,
Longmont CO Room CM 242
See map & directions

Dates:

8/28/23 - 11/29/23

Class Times:

Mondays & Wednesdays
6 - 9 pm

Note: Students are responsible for purchasing Precision Machining Technology Workbook and purchasing or renting Precision Machining Technology textbook from the Boulder County Campus bookstore.

Topics Included:

  • Work Ethic, Employability & Conflict
  • Shop Math
  • Hand Measurement
  • Blueprint Reading
  • General Safety
  • Intro to Lean
  • Safety in the Workshop
  • Intro to Machine Tools
  • Bench Tools
  • Manual Mill & Lathe
  • Cutting Tools

Training Cost:

$2,500

Registration Process:

  1. Apply to FRCC
  2. After you receive a confirmation letter, register for noncredit classes. You will receive a welcome letter with the course details in 3-5 business days.
  3. Apply for Scholarships. See Ball and Gene Haas manufacturing scholarships.

Intermediate Machining

This machining class is designed for graduates of the FRCC Introduction to Machining class and those who have the equivalent of one to three years job experience (including a background in manual machining).

Location:

FRCC Boulder County Campus
Center for Integrated Manufacturing
1351 S Sunset Street,
Longmont CO Room CM 242
See map & directions

Class Dates:

8/29/23 - 11/30/23

Class Times:

Tuesdays & Thursdays
6 - 9 pm

Note: Students are responsible for purchasing Precision Machining Technology workbook and purchasing or renting Precision Machining Technology textbook from the Boulder County Campus bookstore.

Topics Included:

  • Teambuilding & Communication
  • Shop Math
  • ISO/QA
  • Measurement
  • GD&T
  • Cutting Tools
  • CMM
  • CNC Mill &Lathe
  • Intro to CAD/CAM

Training Cost:

$2,500

Registration Process:

  1. Apply to FRCC
  2. After you receive a confirmation letter, register for noncredit classes. You will receive a welcome letter with the course details in 3-5 business days.
  3. Apply for Scholarships. See Ball and Gene Haas manufacturing scholarships.

Advanced Machining

Course covers advanced machine shop principles including using Mastercam to design and program CNC Lathe and CNC Mill and measurement tools.

Location:

FRCC Boulder County Campus
Center for Integrated Manufacturing
1351 S Sunset Street,
Longmont CO Room CM 238
See map & directions

Dates:

10/16/23 - 12/11/23

Class Times:

Mondays & Wednesdays
6 - 9:30 pm

Topics Included:

  • Advanced shop math topics

  • ISO/QA

  • GD&T

  • Cutting Tools

  • CMM

  • CNC Mill & Lathe

Training Cost:

$1,300

Registration Process:

  1. Apply to FRCC
  2. After you receive a confirmation letter, register for noncredit classes. You will receive a welcome letter with the course details in 3-5 business days.
  3. Apply for Scholarships. See Ball and Gene Haas manufacturing scholarships.

Mastercam

Course covers how to use Mastercam to program toolpaths for CNC Mill and CNC Lathe

Location:

FRCC Boulder County Campus
Center for Integrated Manufacturing
1351 S Sunset Street,
Longmont CO Room CM 238
See map & directions

Dates:

8/28/23 - 10/11/23 

Class Times:

Mondays & Wednesdays
6 - 9:30 pm

Topics Included:

  • MasterCAM software
  • 2D and 3D line drawing, solids
  • Tool path geometry
  • Creating part geometry
  • Creating cnc tool-path
  • Creating parts on CNC machines

Training Cost:

$1,600

Registration Process:

  1. Apply to FRCC
  2. After you receive a confirmation letter, register for noncredit classes. You will receive a welcome letter with the course details in 3-5 business days.
  3. Apply for Scholarships. See Ball and Gene Haas manufacturing scholarships.

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T)

Students will learn the necessary skills needed to interpret engineering designs and avoid mistakes that occur during the manufacturing process. The common language known as GD&T can help facilitate communication amongst key team members responsible for the production of a part. GD&T is an essential tool for communicating design intent - how the parts from technical drawings have the desired form, fit, function, and interchangeability.

Location:

FRCC Boulder County Campus
Center for Integrated Manufacturing
1351 S Sunset Street,
Longmont CO Room CM 238
See map & directions

Class Dates:

8/26/23 - 11/25/23

Class Times:

Saturdays
8 am - 12 pm

Topics Included:
  • Intro to GD&T
  • The datum system
  • Orientation and form tolerances
  • Positional tolerancing
  • Zero tolerance and true position
  • Runout, concentricity and symmetry
  • Taylor principle and virtual condition

Training Cost:

$1,600

Registration Process:

  1. Apply to FRCC
  2. After you receive a confirmation letter, register for noncredit classes. You will receive a welcome letter with the course details in 3-5 business days.
  3. Apply for Scholarships. See Ball and Gene Haas manufacturing scholarships.

How to Register For Non-Credit Machining Classes

  1. Apply to FRCC
  2. After you receive a confirmation letter, register for noncredit classes. You will receive a welcome letter with the course details in 3-5 business days.
  3. Apply for Scholarships. See Ball and Gene Haas manufacturing scholarships.

Scholarship & Funding Opportunities

There are several funding sources available for the non-credit machining program. Please note that federal financial aid and student loans usually cannot be used for non-credit programs.

Machining Department Scholarships

In order to be considered for a scholarship, you must have completed your application and registration. There are a limited number of FRCC scholarships available.

  • Submit a letter of interest that details your background and/or interest in machining, your career goals, how you plan to use this training, the dollar amount that you can contribute to your training, and any other details you feel are important for us to know.
  • Submit this letter to us by email.

Unemployed and Under-Employed Workers

Unemployed and under-employed workers may be eligible for federal Workforce Innovation & Opportunity Act funding. To determine if you qualify, please contact the workforce center closest to you:

Veterans

If you are a veteran, you may qualify for veteran's benefits. Contact Randy Rayback, a FRCC Veterans Representative, at 303-678-3654 or by email.

Internships & Apprenticeships

Companies in the machining industry may have internships and apprenticeships available. If you have some experience in the trade, contact us for a list of companies.

Questions?

Find answers to your questions about FRCC Machining certificates and courses for college credit, as well as non-credit machining training, call us at 303-678-3790, or email us.

Classes for College Credit

Learn about our Machining classes and certificates to earn college credit.

 

Student Spotlight

eric machining

I find the program to be extremely flexible and adaptive to all learning styles. It touches on a huge amount of aspects in the machining world.

- Eric Van Der Heide

 

Contact Us

For more information or to register for machining classes:

303-678-3790Email

 

Center for Integrated Manufacturing

FRCC Boulder County Campus 1351 S. Sunset St. Longmont, CO 80501

See map & directions

 

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