Hello, all! I wanted to start a megathread to discuss the Resources educators use or need to teach the Academy in their classrooms. This topic of discussion applies to students in Junior High, Highschool, Higher Education, and workforce development programs.
We recently released a couple of new documents on the Academy Resources Page that were designed to quickly outline the requirements and materials needed to start teaching our curriculum in the classroom.
The documents include links to software; links to CAD, CAM, and CNC tutorials; minimum CNC machine tool requirements; setup tooling and workholding recommendations; mill and lathe tooling requirements; coolant and filtration recommendations; inspection tooling recommendations; and standardized material information. I’ve linked them below for your convenience.
Since its inception, the Academy has presented itself as the template for advanced manufacturing education, a revolutionary solution to address the industry’s training gap. We now view our suite of Academies as the premier Digital Apprenticeship Program for training the next generation of machinists. When we launch our certification platform—CNC Expert—we will set yet another standard for experiential learning online.
My question to everyone is: what resources and information would be valuable for your implementation of the Academy Curriculum in your classroom?
Further: we have both Mastercam Fundamentals and 5-Axis Fundamentals Series in development. What other types of content would you like to see from us?
Thank you for reading! I look forward to your thoughts and feedback.
We started Fusion 360 because of the Academy and will continue to use it, students love it. It would be great to update some of the videos since the UI is different and causes some confusion. It is possible that some of us instructors may take them on, but the presentation would not be near as good as what Titans does.
Maybe implementing more things into the fixturing series? Like an official academy video with the picture framing method Barry had a while back, or other methods. Maybe some stuff for Horizontals with different clearance planes and other “challenges” that would come up when programming/ setting up one.
Fusion 360 updates more than SW and MasterCam, so GUI and processes change often. To counter that, during lesson, my students watch the Titan video, I embed questions as part of the assignment, then I segment the project into many assignments in a progression that students complete. I create my own videos using AutoDesk ScreenCast(can be used for any software application), those videos are less than 10 minutes long, specific to current revision of software and explains how software and processes change. The student completes the assignment by screen shot their progression and move on to next step… Many students complete 3-4 assignments a day. There is a forum topic that illustrates this. Each year, I review my videos and redo if changes are needed. It does not take long to create a 10 minute video… Here is link to topic Embedding Titans of CNC Academy into school curriculum - The Academy - TITANS of CNC: Academy
We have been teaching Titans of CNC - Building Blocks for over 3 years now. We primarily use Fusion 360 but we also teach Mastercam. example: If I have a student going to a Mastercam shop or we have time, we revisit Titan 1M etc. in Mastercam. We do the same with optional materials like 1018 Steel.
We teach 11-12 grade and college age. We did use the Titan 139M and 200M to learn 5 axis and entered Project MFG and came in 4th place in nationals. We did NOT have a 5 axis machine to train on so what we learned in Titans of CNC helped.
We also have some students who need more projects and we take some random Titan parts and make them as well.
Howdy, Wayne! We have several updates inbound for the Solidworks Curriculum. Specifically there are new fundamentals and some new part tutorials coming soon.
Presently, we have the following series available:
Thank you for your feedback, David! It’s the nature of Cloud-based apps to outpace the release of tutorials. As soon as we start production on an update, it’s already out of date. We believe that the Community best contributes to the ever-changing interface and processes of Fusion 360.
We will continue to provide support for our tutorials and push our Curriculum forward in innovative ways.
Mr Hadwin’s suggestion to create your own incremental screencasts is a great solution! We think that’s a creative method of supplementing our existing materials.
Please let us know if you have other feedback or suggestions. Let’s ALL RISE!
Thank you for your feedback, Will! I’ll certainly relay it to the TEAM for further discussion. Speaking of the Art of Fixturing Series, you may want to know that we had a stealth release of a new design video for the TITAN-SUB-400, the sub-plate for the Fixtures. Now the series has a complete set of design and program tutorials!
I think you’re going to see more on the fly teaching moments on our social channels. Topics will range from challenges like the Ball-in-a-Box to using toe clamps to setup a Vise.
For those who have yet to follow us on Social, note that we post mostly shorter-form videos on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok. You’ll see the more in-depth content on our YouTube Channel.
We encourage everyone to tap into those resources, to more fully augment your Academy experience.
Well, thought I would post about AutoDesk Screencast having an EOL (End of Life) event this year. One of my favorite video capturing solutions will no longer be available. Always looking for creative ways to capture screen videos showing mouse clicks, keyboard clicks, etc. if anybody has some free alternatives, please post. I am also posting in this forum due to the sound of crickets
For my Walkthroughs, both public and internal use only, I use Loom to record independent windows/applications. It’s a cloud based software, so editing and file management are done via web browser. There is a desktop application for actual recording, or you can use a browser extension.
I believe the free version of the site has a 5 minute recording limit. In theory, you could record multiple short videos, download them, and then stitch together in a video editing software.
"My question to everyone is: what resources and information would be valuable for your implementation of the Academy Curriculum in you in the classroom?
Further: we have both Mastercam Fundamentals and 5-Axis Fundamentals Series in development. What other types of content would you like to see from us?
Thank you for reading! I look forward to your thoughts and feedback."
I’ve been using Titans Building Blocks and Rocket parts for my senior level high school class for the past few years. My students have completed the CAD and CAM for nearly all of the parts in Mastercam. Last year we started machining parts and did a few of the mill parts and this year we’re going to do the lathe parts as well as more mill parts.
I am looking forward to the Mastercam Fundamentals as I believe it will enhance the learning series. The 5-Axis Fundamentals sounds like it may generate some interest, but I do not have any 5-Axis machines. I am still interested though.
What would be nice to see is some multi-axis curriculum. For example, I have a Haas ST15Y turning center and one of my Haas mills has an HA5C 4th Axis. A series of simple parts for each would be helpful for students.
Thanks for all that Titans of CNC is doing for education. This type of curriculum has made a huge difference in my teaching.
Steven Hadwin and I started doing are own videos to supplement the outstanding Titan Videos. To update as to software changes - or implement add-ons. In my class we started using the Fusion 360 tool library advantage with built in presets for feed & speed. Less problems at machine with presets associated with operation. I have been using Youtube to host my content and OBS screencast to record.
we have only a VF2 with Ha5c indexer. We made the Titan 139M cube - that should be a standard for teaching 4 & 5 Axis. We also did the Titan 200m but only up to simulation. We did add other 4th axis projects
We also competed in Project mfg 5 axis competition and came in 4th place took home $20k - we had NEVER run a Haas UMC 750 before. we learned using Titan 5th axis and simulation
yeah I am sad about that. I spoke at an Autodesk virtual about it. You showed me the ropes.
I was using it to review projects one on one with students - just send them an email with link. Like talking to them face to face. I think I can record using OBS screencast and store in my ONE drive cloud that same way with link
I have implemented the tool libraries of my own and provide students with a cross-reference to Titan Video tool numbers. I plan to do videos also, when I get a break. Our local college instructor and I have been talking about working on them over the summer.
Hello, my name is Gabe Kooyers and I have been using the Titans of CNC academy since it came out.
The way I have rolled Titans out has evolved overtime. The first year I let students pick which project they wanted to cut. That was a challenge.
I now start the students on a manual lathe, mill making a tap block. Since I don’t have enough machines for students, while some are on machines the others are drawing, programming 1M in Mastercam.
Respectively when everyone is done with their individual project they move on to the next step. This continues until everyone has rotated and finished tap block and Titan 1m.
Then we start on a one week window to draw/program, the next Friday the finished part is due. In a two-three week window students have moved through a Titan part.
From my advisory committee this year I have found four other manual projects. For the students to complete.
Total layout.
Tap Block Manual
1M
2M
2M manual
3M
4M
Caliper Depth Attachment
5M
6M
Machinist’s Hammer
7M
8M
Micrometer stand
9M
10M
Since starting teaching in 03-04 I have been all manual graduating up to CNC
in 2016 when Titans started I flipped the process, All CNC supplemented by manual
This change has been revolutionary.
This is the first year with this structure. Per advisory committee I introduced more formal set of manual projects. I feel that it will push the students but also gives a balance approach. It has also been great to keep student engagement and buy in.
It is also great with only two CNC’s, if a CNC is being used they can transfer over to manual to keep busy.
I am always looking for improvement. Any insight would be appreciated.
Thanks
