Visi CAD/CAM training for apprentices

Kirklees College has installed 35 seats of Visi CAD/CAM (www.verosoftware.com) to ensure that apprentices are fully trained in five-axis machining.

Its School of Engineering moved into new purpose-built premises last summer and now has 13 CNC machines, including a new Hurco five-axis mill.

Realising that the very latest technology would be needed to get the best out of these machines, the College invested in a number of Visi modules (plus Edgecam).

CNC lecturer Paul Lindley says that advanced five-axis solutions are essential for the next phase of the College’s technical development. “We have had four-axis machining for a few years — plus an adaptor for one machine —
but this is the next step for local companies wishing to take their businesses to the next level and stay competitive.

Taking on new software on this scale is a massive operation, but it is absolutely the right decision. We really are
moving into a new era.”

Kirklees College works with apprentices from companies of all sizes, including Cummins, which makes turbo-chargers, and David Brown, which makes gearing systems.

At any one time, there are about 400 students under-
taking a variety of courses, and there are currently 110 degree students from the University of Huddersfield on its Engineering Appreciation course. All students will now be trained on Visi and Edgecam in their second year, having first learned about manual machining.

Visi and Edgecam will also feature in CNC evening classes, City and Guilds courses and bespoke courses for companies that want to up-skill their workforce.