Learn the basic principles of precision machining from safety and set up to drilling and cutting in Southwestern Illinois College courses offered at Red Bud High School this fall.

SWIC will offer two Precision Machining Technology courses, PMT 101 Intro to the Machine Trades and PMT 102 Intermediate Machining at the high school, 815 Locust St., in Red Bud. The courses are open to the public as well as to Red Bud High School students.

Both four-semester-credit courses count toward the SWIC Precision Machining Technology Associate in Applied Science Degree and Certificate. They will be offered Monday and Wednesday nights: PMT 101 – Aug. 19 to Oct. 14, 5:15-9:35 p.m., and PMT 102 – Oct. 16 to Dec. 11, 5:15-9:50 p.m.

“SWIC wanted to offer the residents of Randolph County the opportunity to experience these career-building courses in the local area,” said SWIC Dean of Technical Education Brad Sparks. “If they discover their interest in Precision Machining, they can purse the college’s other degree and certificates courses and start working toward a career.”

In PMT 101, students will learn basic hand tools, measuring tools, and layout procedures, then transitions into basic machine principals including safety, operation, and part set-ups for primary and secondary machining. In PMT 102, students will learn   

four machine operations (drilling, turning, milling, grinding). Thread cutting, advanced milling operations and the introduction of the surface grinder will be covered.

Graduates of the PMT program are prepared to work as toolmakers, CNC programmers and operators, general machinists and maintenance machinist in manufacturing as well as the steel, chemical, oil, food and beverage industries.

For more information about the PMT courses offered at Red Bud High School or other PMT courses, visit swic.edu/pmt. For registration information, visit swic.edu/admissions.