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New process impacts students’ wallets and faculty syllabi: Students will owe money when purged or dropped after 100% refund date

Emergency Notification Systems at MCC

New Dean of Student Affairs, Sonya Pearson

CNC Milling Machines arrive at MCC

International Students Experience American Culture for Thanksgiving

OneBook MCC!

Recognitions

MCC Event Calendar

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Mesa Community College

CNC Milling Machines arrive at MCC

Two new Haas CNC (Computer Numerical Control) milling machines arrived at MCC recently to provide manufacturing technology students with up-to-date training for employment at machine tool businesses in the Valley.

“Having this state-of-the-art equipment is a major step forward for our program,” said Tom Reyman, program director for MCC’s manufacturing program. “It’s important for students to learn to operate and maintain these machines.”

Reyman said workers moved several older pieces of technology to make way for the new machines, which cost about $25,000, stand nine feet high and take up about eight feet of space in the lab. 

A CNC milling machine is used to cut metal and gives an operator the ability to program tool path movements ahead of time. The computer controls the movements, allowing for precise repeatability. 

Haas Automation, the manufacturer of the machines, currently has 1,800 machines in the Phoenix area. Reyman said the Arizona Tooling and Machining Association encouraged MCC to get this equipment because of the severe shortage of qualified CNC operators and programmers in Maricopa County.

“There are machine operators working 60-70 hours a week to keep up with the demand,” Reyman said. “I get phone calls from companies requesting names of people who have taken just a few classes and have some experience.”

The machines will be used primarily by students pursuing a degree or certificate in manufacturing technology or manufacturing machining and product development. CNC operators can earn from $18-25 an hour and are employed by companies that make aerospace products or by smaller machine shops and specialty shops. 

“This gives the students experience working and translates directly to what’s out there,” Ryman said. “They can walk right into a shop and operate this machine.”