100+ Men Who Care support Area 30 Adult Education CNC

The latest recipient of quarterly funds donated from the organization 100-Plus Men Who Care, Putnam County is the Area 30 Career Center's Adult Education CNC classes.

Area 30 recently received a lottery-sized check for $11,900, representing $100 from each of the 119 local men in the organization.

Local companies have Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) positions that are going unfilled because of a lack of experienced certified workers, Area 30 officials report.

Adult workers need advanced training to apply for this type of high-paying and high-skilled job. Because of the financial support offered Area 30 by 100-Plus Men Who Care, these dollars, along with other contributions from the community, will make it possible to start an entry-level CNC machine operator class as soon as this summer.

The primary goal is to make it possible to train future advanced manufacturing workers here in Putnam County.

The Area 30 Adult Education Program expects to start its first CNC class in June 2016. Students must be at least 18 years old to take the course.

Designed to be 72 hours in length, the class will likely be offered two nights a week (six hours/week) for 12 weeks, to allow students to take the course outside their normal work hours.

The course will prepare students to take the National Institute of Metalworking Skills (NIMS) certification CNC Mill Operator Level I test. The test involves the completion of performance and knowledge based certification exams. Future adult classes may be expanded to include higher-level CNC certifications. Area 30 also plans to offer custom training for individual employers, as requested.

Computer Numerically Controlled (CNC) Machine Operators run the complex machines that make many materials and parts in today's consumer products. Such machines cut, shape or otherwise modify metal, plastic or wood parts. Computer programming determines which tools are to be used and how to use them, but machine operators are responsible for setting up, tending, and maintaining CNC machines. The operator loads the CNC machines with instructions or programs. They then determine the speed and feed ratios as well as the size and position of cuts. They select, measure, install and secure the tools and attachments the machines will use, reading blueprints and using their knowledge of the job to select the proper tools.

While the machines are operating, operators may enter commands or adjust machine controls. When the process is completed, they remove the finished products, taking measurements to ensure they meet specific requirements of the finished product.

Individuals who are interested in taking the CNC course can contact the Adult Education Coordinator Laura Elsbrock at 653-3515, extension 2137.

Here's how the 100-Plus Men Who Care program works: Meembers meet four times each year for a 45-minute meeting. At each quarterly session, a member may nominate a local 501c3 non-profit public charity or a government entity to be included in a drawing.

Three members' nonprofits are randomly drawn from a fishbowl, and each of the three get up to four minutes to explain the organization and its services. Two minutes are also provided for questions if needed. The members present then vote to determine which organization will receive the quarterly funding.