Harper College Logo

COMPUTER NUMERICAL CONTROL (CNC) OPERATOR I

Program Overview

This 19 credit-hour certificate program is designed to provide students with the skills necessary to gain entry-level employment in the manufacturing/precision machining industry. The certificate focuses on skills used in a modern machine shop-blueprint reading, conventional machine tool theory and lab, and an introduction to CNC operations.

Program Requirements

Required:

Number Course Title Credits
MFT 105 3

Description: Covers fundamentals of machine shop theory and safe practices. Provides familiarization with tools, equipment, and practices of the precision metal working industry. Includes introduction to mills, drill press, and lathes. Students are provided classroom and laboratory learning experiences. Students may earn NIMS credentials.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MFT 120 3

Description: Covers machine shop theory with emphasis on safe practices and applications. Includes lathes, surface grinders, and milling machines. Projects in this class will be machined using high speed steel (HSS) tools. Students are responsible for calculating all feeds and speeds. Students may earn NIMS credentials.

Prerequisite: MFT 105 with a grade of C or better.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MFT 121 3

Description: Covers advanced machine shop theory and applications. Includes lathes, surface grinders, and milling machines. Studies production machining, feed and speed applications, and quality control techniques applied to precision machining. Introduces modern indexable tooling. Students may earn NIMS credentials.

Prerequisite: MFT 120 with a grade of C or better.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MFT 123 4

Description: Introduces setup and operation of CNC machining and turning centers. Teaches CNC machine tool controls through laboratory experiences and the manufacture of pre-programmed parts including part holding techniques, alignment, process planning, tooling for CNC machine tools, and inspection of machined products. Students may earn NIMS credentials.

Prerequisite: MFT 121 with a grade of C or better.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MFT 134 3

Description: Provides students in the machine trades the basic skills required for visualizing and interpreting industrial prints. Emphasizes orthographic projection techniques of top, front, side, and section views, tolerancing, geometric dimensioning and the impact of computer drafting as related to the machine trades.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

MTH 097 1 3

Description: Reviews arithmetic, introduces basic algebraic and right triangle trigonometric techniques. Includes arithmetic, elementary algebra, geometry, ratio and proportions, measurements, right triangle trigonometry and their application to solve a variety of career and technical problems. Draws practical problems the student’s career area, including emergency services, graphic communications, building trades, culinary arts and information technology. Intended for students pursuing Harper degrees and certificates in career program fields. This course: is not transferable, does not satisfy the prerequisite for any other mathematics course, and does not satisfy any general education requirements.

Class Schedule:  Fall 2024 | Spring 2025

1 - Students may take MTH 097, MTH 101, MTH 103, or higher.

Last Updated: 11/8/24