Machining Technician
Machining technicians produce complex and precision machined products that are typically used in machinery. For example, aeroplanes and vehicles. They can also produce bespoke components or products for domestic appliances or medical equipment. They use a variety of machines to carry out their work. For example, centre lathes, vertical and horizontal milling machines, horizontal and cylindrical grinding machines. Electro discharge machines, single and multi-axis Computer Numeric Control (CNC) machine tools centres. Gear cutting and Gear Grinding machines.
Components are machined from metal or specialist materials using conventional or CNC machine tools. Machining Technicians interpret information and plan their activities. They also set up, operate, adjust or edit machine tool settings. When using CNC equipment, they can produce, prove or edit programmes. They inspect components and machinery, report issues and support continuous improvement activities.
Apprenticeship information
Entry requirements
A minimum of four GCSEs at grade 4 (C) or above including English, Maths, Science and Technology is desirable. Other equivalent qualifications are acceptable
Where will I study?
Training 2000 Blackburn
Duration
- Up to 4 years
- Year 1- Full time at Training 2000 or up to x3 blocks plus one day per week for the Technical Certificate
- Year 2 - 1 day per week to complete the Technical Certificate / assessment in the workplace
- Year 3/4 - assessment in the workplace
- *six weeks is the maximum length of each block, some may be shorter
English and Maths
You may need to complete your English and Maths Functional Skills depending on your GCSE grades, or if you cannot provide evidence of your GCSE results.
The Functional Skills programme runs as an addition to the time you are already required to spend doing your off-the-job training. Following a thorough assessment process, we will select a learning plan suitable for you, which will be either 2-weeks full-time or 12-weeks (one day per-week) each for English and/or maths.
If a subject needs re-sitting, this will be additional time in the classroom on top of your learning plan.
What you'll learn
- Preparing and using milling machines (mandatory block)
- Producing components using hand fitting techniques (mandatory block)
- Preparing and using lathes for turning operations (mandatory block)
- CNC turning and CNC milling (optional blocks)
- General machining, fitting and assembly applications
- Health and safety in the engineering workplace
- Communication for engineering
- Mathematics for engineering techniques
- Properties and applications for engineering materials
- Advanced manual turning techniques
- Advanced manual milling techniques
- Engineering inspection and quality control
- Further engineering mathematics
- Mechanical principles of engineering systems
- Environmental engineering and sustainability
Next steps
On completion of this course you may want to consider the following options to further your career.
Where can you progress to?
Frequently asked questions
Most of our Apprenticeships are 4 years but can be shorter dependant on the type of engineering you are learning.
We offer engineering Apprenticeships in a range of areas, such as CAD (Computer Aided Design), Welding, Fire & Security systems, Electronics, Mechatronics and CNC.
We work with many local engineering companies, who advertise their vacancies on our website. These will change daily, so always check back for the latest ones.
As we are part of the University of Central Lancashire, you can easily progress onto a Degree Apprenticeship