Professional Training Programs

BUILT

FOR THEREAL WORLD

Practical, industry-focused training for CNC operators, software designers, and large-format print specialists. Sessions run year-round at our Montreal facility — with remote options available for software conception.

CNC TRAINING INCLUDED WITH EVERY PURCHASE

Every SMX CNC machine comes with operator training built in — including a foundational CNC operation and software conception session at no extra cost.

A $2,500 value — included

Need more? Additional sessions are available for onboarding new staff, deepening team expertise, or scaling your production workflow.

15 h
CNC PROGRAMS
135$+
SOFTWARE / HR
3
SPECIALIZATIONS
30+
YRS EXPERIENCE

Training Catalog

Three Programs.
Built for Production.

Each program is led by in-house specialists and adapted to your real work environment. No filler — every hour is built around the skills you need from day one.

Program 01
CNC Operator
Training
Machine Operation & Control

From machine startup to finished part — this program trains operators on CNC router control, toolpath execution, tooling management, material setup, and daily production safety on SMX routers.

Duration
15 hrs
Cost
$2,500
Format
Hands-On
Availability
Year-Round
Career Paths
CNC Machine Operator
Numerical Control Operator
Press-Brake Operator
Production Equipment Operator
Digital Fabrication Designer
Program 02
CNC Software
Conception
WinPCSIGN · Custom Sessions

100% custom sessions built around your specific project, production type, and skill level. Train new hires, specialize current staff, or expand into a new production type — we build the session around the exact need.

Rate
$135 / hr
Duration
Varies
Format
Custom
Availability
Year-Round
Who It's For
New employees replacing a departing operator
Operators expanding into software design
Teams adding a new production type
Sign makers, cabinet makers, metal fabricators
Any project needing specific WinPCSIGN skills
Program 03
Large Format
Printer
Operation & Design Conception

A complete program covering both machine operation and design conception for large-format printing — from printer startup and substrate handling to colour management, RIP workflow, file prep, and finishing.

Duration
15 hrs
Cost
$2,500
Format
Hands-On
Availability
Year-Round
Career Paths
Large Format Print Operator
Vinyl Cutting Operator
Digital Print Graphic Designer
Signage Specialist
Print Production Specialist
Advertising & Print Entrepreneur

Program 01 — In Detail

CNC Operator Training

Fifteen hours structured around every phase of CNC router operation — students are at the machine from the very first session. Delivered on SMX routers at our Montreal facility.

01
Machine Startup & Homing

Power-on sequence, SYNTEC controller interface, axis homing, work coordinate system setup, and the pre-run safety checklist every operator must complete.

02
Material Setup & Fixturing

Spoil board surfacing, vacuum table zones, clamp placement, material registration, and zero-point setting for accurate, repeatable production runs.

03
Tooling Selection & Management

Router bit geometry, flute count, coatings, and material pairing. Tool-length offsets, ATC programming, breakage detection, and change procedures.

04
Feeds, Speeds & Cut Quality

Calculating feed rate, spindle RPM, chip load, and depth of cut. Reading cut quality to identify and correct deflection, tear-out, burning, and chatter.

05
Toolpath Execution & Monitoring

Loading G-code programs, dry-run simulation, monitoring the cut cycle, pausing and resuming in production, and responding correctly to alarms and faults.

06
Safety & Daily Maintenance

Emergency stop procedures, dust collection setup, PPE requirements, end-of-shift cleaning, lubrication, and the daily preventive maintenance log.

Program 02 — In Detail

CNC Software Conception

Every session is 100% custom — built around your project, your production type, and your team's current level. You pay only for the hours your project actually needs, at $135 / hr.

Included with every SMX CNC purchase
Basic Operator &
Software Training

When you buy a new SMX CNC, a foundational operator and WinPCSIGN session is included at no extra cost — so your team is running production from the day the machine arrives.

Additional sessions — any time after purchase
$175 / hour
Custom Duration

Train a replacement hire. Specialize a current employee on a new production type. Expand into a project your team has never run. We build each session around the exact need — no filler hours.

Common Reasons Businesses Book a Session

Situation A
New Employee Onboarding

An operator left and you hired someone new. We train them on your machine, your files, and your production workflow — not a generic demo environment.

Situation B
Team Specialization

Your operator handles basics well but you want them to master cabinet nesting, 3D engraving, or channel letter routing. We go deep on exactly that project type.

Situation C
New Production Type

You're adding stairs, inlays, or boat scrapers to your offering. We build the session around that project from file creation to finished cut on your machine.

Session Topics — What We Cover

Examples of project types we build custom sessions around. Not a fixed menu — if your project isn't listed, contact us.

Project
Cabinet Making

Panel nesting, joinery, hardware layout, cutlist automation, full workflow.

Project
Metal Cutting & Tapping

Aluminum and steel cutting, thread tapping, precision holes, fixturing.

Project
Sign Making

Vector lettering, dimensional routing, multi-layer construction, interior & exterior.

Project
Boat Scraper Making

Marine component production, contour cutting, composite material toolpaths.

Project
Inlay Making

Precision pocket routing, multi-material inlay, tolerance fitting, decorative work.

Project
3D Engraving

Relief carving, depth mapping, 3D toolpath generation, sculptural finishing.

Project
Stair Making

Stringer, tread, and riser processing. Parametric profiles, nosing, full system.

Project
MDF Door Making

Shaker profiles, raised panels, routed grooves, and decorative moulding. Full door blank processing from sheet to finished slab ready for paint.

Project
Epoxy Table

Live-edge slab profiling, pocket routing for resin pours, and sanding head finishing passes. Precision flattening for glass-smooth epoxy surfaces.

Project
Boat Deck Making

Teak and composite deck panel layout, caulk groove routing, non-slip texture passes, and curved hull-following contour cutting.

Project
3D Engraving

Relief carving, depth-map import, 3D toolpath generation, and multi-pass finishing for sculptural surface work in wood, foam, and HDU.

Project
Rotary Wooden Pole

4th-axis rotary turning, full 360° indexing, fluted column profiles, decorative carving, and tapered spindle production on round stock.

Project
Channel Letters

Back-lit and front-lit routing, return wall cutting, LED layout, assembly.

Project
Foam Cutting

EPS and polyurethane toolpaths, tool selection, display props, packaging.

Program 03 — In Detail

Large Format Printer
Operator & Conception

A combined program covering both machine operation and design conception. Students leave able to run the printer and prepare professional-grade output files.

Part A — Machine Operation

01
Machine Startup & Calibration

Power-on sequence, head cleaning routines, nozzle check interpretation, and bi-directional print alignment calibration for consistent output.

02
Substrate Loading & Handling

Roll and rigid substrate loading, media tension settings, pinch roller configuration, and preventing feed errors on long runs.

03
Colour Profiling & Management

Using ICC media profiles, ink-limit adjustment, and achieving consistent output colour across substrates, runs, and machines.

04
Print Quality Control

Reading banding, colour shift, and registration errors. Diagnosing and correcting defects before they waste material or reach the client.

05
Vinyl Cutting Operation

Plotter blade depth and pressure, registration mark reading, contour cut alignment, and weeding technique for clean vinyl output.

06
Maintenance & End-of-Day Routine

Ink system care, head capping, roller cleaning, waste ink monitoring, and the daily maintenance log for machine longevity.

Part B — Design Conception

Design training purpose-built for large-format output. For designers, operators expanding into conception, and entrepreneurs producing their own print material. No prior large-format design experience required.

Enroll in Program 03
01
Vector File Creation

Scalable artwork in Illustrator or CorelDRAW — curves, outlines, and layer organisation for large-scale print.

02
Colour Management & ICC Profiles

CMYK vs RGB, profile selection, soft proofing, and colour consistency across substrates and runs.

03
RIP Software Workflow

Sending to the RIP, nesting, ink-limit curves, pass count, and output parameter control.

04
Bleed, Trim & Safe Zones

Document setup with correct bleed, crop marks, and safe zones for banners, wraps, and rigid substrates.

05
Tiling & Large-Scale Layout

Splitting oversized artwork across panels with accurate seam alignment and tiled output files.

06
Substrate Considerations

How vinyl, canvas, mesh, and rigid board affect design decisions, resolution, and finishing methods.

07
Finishing & Application Prep

Laminating, contour cutting, grommets, hemming — designing with the final installation in mind from the start.

Ready to Book
Your Session?

Contact our team to confirm availability and schedule your training at our Montreal facility. Bilingual FR/EN support available.