The open house at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus included live cutting demonstrations on the school’s new, highly advanced CNC machinery.
Milwaukee Area Technical College held an open house Oct. 17 in the T Building to introduce area students, educators, manufacturers and community leaders to its new CNC Swiss Lab. A ribbon cutting and formal program were held at 4 p.m. in T129. MATC recently added new state-of-the art equipment to enhance training for its CNC (computer numerical control) Swiss machine tool operations classes. Six new Tsugami precision machine tools were purchased and installed at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus in recent months.
According to Dorothy Walker, interim dean of MATC’s School of Technical and Applied Sciences, the college expanded its capacity for Swiss CNC training this fall in response to a growing need from local employers for CNC Swiss machine programmers, setup technicians and operators. MATC is the only technical college in Wisconsin that offers a full technical diploma in CNC Swiss machining.
“Manufacturers used to rely on manually operated screw machines,” said Walker. “With the advent and adoption of CNC Swiss machines, manufacturers can rapidly produce complicated parts with high accuracy and repeatability, increasing their production capabilities and ability to compete for business locally and globally. We have been offering training on CNC Swiss machines for some time, but we wanted to be able to serve more students and upgrade equipment to ensure that our students would be learning on the newest technology.”
CNC Swiss Turning Technical Diploma Extends Beyond Machining Basics
The two-semester program called “Machine Tool Operations: CNC Swiss Turning Setup and Operation” extends beyond machining basics, providing hands-on training on Tsugami Swiss type CNC lathes, which are highly accurate machines commonly employed in the production of small, precision parts ranging from household hardware and plumbing supplies to medical, dental, aerospace and automotive components, among others.
To enhance its already robust program that provides a technical diploma and readily employable skills, MATC purchased the new Tsugami precision machine tools from Morris Midwest, a full-service regional machine tool distributor with offices in Waukesha, Wis.; Roselle, Ill., and Maple Grove, Minn. Machine models include the Tsugami S205 20 mm Swiss type CNC lathe with five cutting axes; the SS207-5AX 20 mm Swiss type CNC lathe with seven cutting axes including a B-axis for complex machining and contouring, and the BW209Z 20 mm Swiss type CNC lathe with nine cutting axes. Morris Midwest, a division of Morris Group, Inc., installed the machinery at MATC’s Downtown Milwaukee Campus.
According to Chris Chomicki, MATC machine tool instructor, one of the reasons the college considered the Tsugami brand is because of the dual gang tooling configuration of the machines, a helpful feature when conducting two classes in conjunction with one another. A second attractive feature was the flexibility to convert the machines from typical Swiss type bar fed operation to conventional work holding mode with an optional chucker kit. Morris Midwest’s reputation as a trusted supplier was an added factor in the school’s decision to purchase the globally recognized Tsugami brand.
Instruction in CNC Swiss turning at MATC takes students through the steps of setting up and programming a machine. Students begin the learning process by editing virtual programs on tablets and progress to programming the machines for live cutting. Students who successfully complete the two-semester program obtain a technical diploma that can be applied to further study at MATC.
“We’re thrilled that MATC chose to install Tsugami CNC precision machine tools at the school,” said Corey B. Johnson, president, Morris Midwest. “Working with area manufacturers as we do, we’re aware of the need for skilled CNC programmers and machinists and are honored to support workforce development in partnership with MATC. Specialized skills in CNC Swiss turning are a valuable asset for anyone seeking employment in metal cutting.”
For more information about MATC's CNC Swiss machines and diploma, visit www.matc.edu, and call (414) 297-6815 or email schroeml@matc.edu.
For more information about Morris Midwest, visit www.morrismidwest.com, call 414-586-0450 or email info@morrismidwest.com.
About Milwaukee Area Technical College:
Wisconsin’s largest technical college and the most diverse two-year institution in the Midwest, Milwaukee Area Technical College is a key driver of southeastern Wisconsin’s economy and has provided innovative education in the region since 1912. Approximately 37,000 students per year attend the college’s four campuses and community-based sites or learn online. MATC offers affordable and accessible education and training opportunities that empower and transform lives in the community. The college offers 200 academic programs; and transfer options leading to bachelor’s degrees with more than 35 four-year colleges and universities. Overwhelmingly, MATC graduates build careers and businesses in southeastern Wisconsin. The college is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission, the national standard for academics and student services.
About Morris Midwest:
Morris Midwest (www.morrismidwest.com), a division of Morris Group, Inc., is the exclusive distributor of Okuma, Tsugami, and Hardinge CNC machine tools in northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan’s UP, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. In addition to new machine tools, Morris Midwest provides engineered solutions, replacement parts, service, preventive maintenance and more. Services include customer consultation, financing, installation, training, service and disposition of retired machines. Morris Midwest’s new headquarters/technical center is located in Waukesha, Wisconsin. Regional offices are located in Roselle, Illinois and Maple Grove, Minnesota.
About Morris Group, Inc.:
Morris Group, Inc. (www.morrisgroupinc.com), one of North America’s largest machine tool supply networks, owns fifteen independently operated business units. It supplies CNC machine tools and related technology and services to manufacturers representing virtually every industry segment. Morris Group, Inc. is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, home of its founding company, The Robert E. Morris Company, which has served the manufacturing industry since 1941.
Media Contacts:
Ginny Gnadt
Coordinator, Public Relations
Milwaukee Area Technical College
(414) 297-6770 (work)
(414) 467-7221 (cell)
gnadtv@matc.edu
Jane McAlpine
Senior Marketing Manager
Morris Group, Inc.
910 Day Hill Road
Windsor, CT 06095
860-687-3475
jmcalpine@morrisgroupinc.com