Foundational Shop Content
Essential knowledge for machine shop and fabricator workers
Shop Content Overview
The following curriculum provides entry level shop workers with the knowledge and background needed when starting out in a shop environment. It does not replace hands-on instruction, nor does it replace task-specific training. Rather, the job-specific training is more effective, impactful, and takes less of your expert’s time when workers already know the fundamentals.
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Note: content is currently under development with our beta pilot program partners, and additional job roles are being added based on partner demand. Schedule a call if you'd like to learn how your company could participate!
Job Role Pathways
Trainees will experience content in a curriculum we call a pathway that is designed for their specific job role. Some example roles we are actively developing:
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CNC Mill Operator
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Shop Helper, Machinist Assistant
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Burr Hand, Grinder, Deburrer
An example CNC Mill Operator Pathway:
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Machine Shop Overview
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Life of a Part
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Shop Safety
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Machines, Tools, and Terms
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Basic Measurement Tools
(Calipers, Micrometers, Tape Measure) -
Basic of CNC Mills
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CNC Mill Safety
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Typical CNC Tools and Operations
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Tool Installation and Offset Setting
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CNC Mill Startup & Shutdown
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G-Code Introduction
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Common Materials Overview
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Reading Shop Drawings Intro
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Units: Thou and Millimeters
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Metric to Imperial Conversion
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Drawings: Views/Projections
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Drawings: Line Types & Section Views
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Drawings: Tolerances in Depth
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Drawings: Dimensions
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Intro to GD&T
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Drawings: Hole & Thread Callouts
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Drawings: Misc Symbols
Foundational Content
These are intended to be chosen based on the needs of the entry level jobs at your specific shop. The goal of this content is to give workers the knowledge they would have had if they had vocational education or experience working in another shop.
Shop Overview / Life of a Part
Our Pathways usually start with a shop overview that explain how a part goes from raw material through various production steps to a finished product that can be inspected and shipped.
General Equipment Familiarization
Learn​ the names and purpose of typical machines found at shops, e.g., mill, lathe, bandsaw, drill press, brake press, hydraulic press, MIG/TID welders, grinder, surface grinder, CNC punch, laser cutter, water jet, EDM, etc.
Basic Tool Familiarization
Become familiar with the name and purpose of typical hand tools found in a shop, including calipers, micrometers, taps, dies, reamers, punch, ​height gauges, gage blocks, scribe, etc.
Measurement Skills
Learn the basics of using a measuring tape, calipers, micrometers, height gauges, go/no-go gauges, dial indicators, bore gauges. While hands-on training with these tools​ is essential, if workers have a base understanding, the hands-on training can focus on "feel" rather than basics.
Shop Terminology
Workers can't learn if they don't even know basic language. This includes terms like "thou", ream, tolerance, burr, CNC, tap, workpiece, CAD, fixture, jig, etc.
Shop Safety
This skill covers appropriate PPE, the importance of cleanliness, the dangers of metal cutting machinery, guards, general tool handling, when to wear gloves, and more.
Shop Math
Learn common shop units ("living 3 places to the right of the decimal", thou, mm), fractions, decimal to fraction conversion, and unit conversions.​
Drawings / Blueprints
Be able to read and understand dimensions, general tolerances, specific tolerances, common symbols, different views/projections, hole/thread callouts, line types, and an intro to GD&T.​
Common Materials
Learn the basic properties of typical materials used in shops, like aluminum, carbon steel, alloy steel, stainless steel, brass.​
