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Trainees Learn About Alphacam at new Woodworking Academy

A new dedicated woodworking academy is including the market leading design and machining software, Alphacam, on its courses, to ensure it turns out the best trained wood craftsmen.

Training provider Didac Ltd has opened the Woodwise Academy in Bristol, providing a variety of courses for 14-16-year-old school pupils, and people who are not in employment, education or training, along with apprentices and other employees. The courses are from one day, up to two years for apprentices who can also take an advanced course for an additional year.

Managing Director Jon Gibson (pictured right) says the Woodwise City & Guilds backed qualification is unique in the woodworking industry, particularly with its wide range of machinery. “We have everything from classical machines, including wall saw, edge bander and CNC machines. Many providers only cover the use of classical sawing, moulding and planing machines. “

Woodwise has entered into a partnership with Alphacam, which drives its  3-axis CNC routing machine. “Using Alphacam, learners start with simple tasks like components for pieces of furniture they’re making by hand, through to parts for production furniture and joinery items such as stairs. The Alphacam course shows them how to produce a drawing on the system, add the toolpaths and produce the CNC code for the machine.”

Alphacam area manager Shaun Boit (pictured left) says 85% of all woodworking CNC machines in the industry are driven by Alphacam, so it’s essential that learners understand how it can make their machines capable of doing so much more than OEM’s own software. “The fact that the Woodwise Academy provides training on Alphacam, means they can walk into most areas of woodwork manufacturing, as diverse as shopfitting, kitchens and boatbuilding, and be able to program their CNC machines.” 

Jon Gibson says: “Being trained in Alphacam means they will be able to get a job anywhere. A vast number of companies use it, and it runs the majority of machines in the industry, so we’re giving our learners a distinct advantage.”

The Alphacam courses include producing geometry, adding and editing toolpaths, adding dimensions, generation of loading of programs, tooling selection and feed speeds, and health and safety requirements. They are both stand-alone courses, and incorporated into wider training of traditional and production machine woodworking, bench skills, upholstery, and specialist I.T.

The Woodwise Academy was opened by Dr John Chudley, National Apprenticeship Service director for the South West. 

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