CNC Training: Free Online Training and Guides

Last modified: June 17, 2024

Free Online CNC Training Courses

14 Free Online CNC Training classes and Guides for CNC Machinists. Increase your skills by learning more about Feeds & Speeds, G-Code, and much more.

These days, production CNC shops have gotten so busy it's hard to get good on-the-job CNC training.  Hobbyists are totally out of luck except for possible Makerspace courses that cover the bare minimum.  So what's a poor CNC who wants to better their skills supposed to do?

Try our free Online Training Courses and learn at your own pace.  They're comprehensive and we're constantly adding more courses as well as refining the existing ones. We've been offering these free courses for years and thousands of CNC'ers just like you have taken advantage of them. All our courses are self-paced courses.

As seen in Cutting Tool Engineering Magazine.

Five-axis mill with labeled X, Y, Z, A, and B axes in a 3D rendering.

Quick Picks to our Online CNC Training (Cookbooks)

Free Feeds & Speeds Master Class

Feeds and Speeds Course

G-Code Programming Course

Beginner's Step-By-Step Guide to Making Parts

Geometric Dimensions and Tolerancing (GD&T)

Lean Manufacturing

CNC Manufacturing Shop Management

CNC Beginner's Cookbook

DIY CNC Cookbook

Calculators and Reference Charts

CNC Programming PDF's

Definitive Guide to Deburring

Definitive Guide to Lights Out Manufacturing

Complete Guide to Metrology

The Feeds and Speeds Cookbook cover with black title text and blue info on a light yellow background.

The Feeds and Speeds Cookbook cover with black title text and blue info on a light yellow background.

Free Feeds and Speeds Master Class: Weekly email CNC course will take you from Beginner to Expert.

CNC Feeds and Speeds Cookbook: CNC Training so you can get the best Material Removal Rates, Tool Life, and Surface Finish from your CNC machines.  Plus specific guides for cutters and material types.

More Feeds and Speeds:

Quick Video Course in Feeds and Speeds: 2 videos-theory + practice.

G-Wizard Machinist's Calculator: Fast, Easy, Reliable Feeds and Speeds.

Five-axis mill with labeled X, Y, Z, A, and B axes in a 3D rendering.

CNCCookbook's G-Code CNC Course: Use an Interactive Learning Tool and online courseware to learn g-code or polish your cnc programming skills.  Computer Numerical Control has never been this easy.

More G-Code Programming:

G-Wizard G-Code Editor: Editor, backplotter, and g-code simulator: a radically easier way to deal with GCode.

G-Code Reference: G-Code quick references for mills, routers, and lathes.

What is a CNC Programmer?  Learn all about the job and what professionals do.

Rotary table with vise attachment, 3D rendering, highlighting design and components.

Beginner's Step-By-Step Guide to Making CNC Parts

You’ve got a vision for a part you want to make.  You’ve been lusting after your own CNC Machine for a long time.  You just want to put the two together, but try as you might, there’s no map to guide you.  No article or book has put it all together, given you the information you need, and made it easy to understand.

This CNC Course is that map you've been looking for to get your CNC Machine cranked up and making parts!

Red and green CNC machine with white platform on gray background.

CNC Router Complete Guide

Training, resources, projects, and buyer's guides for CNC Routers.

These CNC Machines are super-powerful for wood and plastics projects.

Metrological tools including calipers and micrometers on a gray background with faint tool outlines.

Complete Guide to Metrology and Measurement

CNC Training that's all about Machinist's Measuring Tools, what they can do, and how to use them.

Geometric shapes including circles, squares, lines, and arrows outlined in blue on a white background.

Geometric Dimensioning and Tolerancing (GD&T) CNC Training

CNC Course on how to understand and use GD&T.

Lean manufacturing concepts, including Waste, Inventory, Production, Value.

Lean Manufacturing Principles

This CNC Training shows you how Lean Manufacturing is a powerful tool for improving productivity in Your Manufacturing Industry (actually for many other business areas too).

We've published a series of articles that taken together provide a Free Lean Manufacturing CNC Course to help shops understand what Lean Manufacturing is, what it can do for them, and how to go about implementing it.

Two men in blue overalls stand beside a silver car with its hood open, set against a yellow metal structure and white wall backdrop.

CNC Machining and Manufacturing Cookbook

CNC Training on how to run a CNC Manufacturing operation efficiently.

Lean Manufacturing Principles: Try our multi-part mini-course to get you up to speed on Lean Manufacturing fast.

20 Most Popular Articles and Blog Posts for Pro CNC’ers

Empty classroom with rows of desks and chairs.

CNC Beginner's Cookbook

Are you just getting started in CNC? Wondering how it all fits together and what to learn first?

Check out our CNC Beginner's Cookbook.

What's Hard to Learn About CNC? We surveyed our visitors to find out what they think the hardest things are for beginners.

Metal component with a black cylindrical part, white plastic handle, and metal rod.

DIY CNC Cookbook

Are you a hobbyist? Considering building your own CNC? Do you have a CNC you bought and need help with?

Check out our DIY CNC Cookbook for in-depth articles for the DIY CNC'er.  Get the details on various types of CNC Machines.

TI-30X IIS calculator on top of an f(x)-7000G graphing calculator manual.

Calculators and Reference Charts

**Need a quick, specialized calculation for CNC? Perhaps a reference table?
Tired of searching through Machinery's Handbook?
**

This is the right place, click on through!

Five-axis mill with labeled X, Y, Z, A, and B axes in a 3D rendering.

CNC Programming PDF's

Sometimes it's nice to download and print information.

Industrial bin labeled MR DEBURR containing small metal parts in shades of green and silver.

Definitive Guide to Deburring

Deburring is a fact of life at most CNC Shops.  This CNC Course gives you great machinist training on how to deburr your parts.

Rows of computer workstations with monitors and keyboards in a productive and efficient workspace.

Definitive Guide to Lights Out Manufacturing

Take this CNC Training to learn how to do Lights Out Manufacturing and increase your shop's capacity and profitability.  Your machine tools can make you money while you sleep.

Industrial furnace with fiery glow in a cluttered workshop setting.

Types of Metals

Your easy guide to selecting the best material for your next CNC project.

Improve My Feeds and Speeds For

Tinted milling machine on an olive green background.

Tinted metal lathe machine parts.

Large flat table with robotic arm above, used for machining and precision cutting.

A man in a machinist's context, with a tool or part in his hand, against an industrial backdrop.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Can I learn CNC programming online?

Yes, you can.  Our CNC Programming Course is your solution.

How long is CNC training?

On average, it takes most individuals a combined total of three to four years of education from a university or vocational school plus some firsthand experience gained on the job.  That's to become a professional CNC machinist or programmer.  A hobbyist can learn to make parts sufficient for their needs in much less time.

Is there money in CNC work?

Those with advanced skills can charge upwards of $50 an hour.  An owner of a successful CNC shop can make even more.  Become a CNC Machinist can be a good way to earn a handsome income.

Got More Questions?  Here are some great online forums for CNC Machinists:

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