Case Study: Cerritos College achieves hands-on student engagement in manufacturing with 3D Systems

Enticing Students to Manufacturing with GibbsCAM CNC Software

Cerritos College’s Machine Tool Technology (MTT) program, housed in a modernized metal trades building, teaches CNC, CAM, robotics and related skills to prepare students for manufacturing careers. While evening classes filled with working adults, the department struggled to attract high school students who lacked exposure to making things and saw little appeal in traditional trade training.

To engage teens, the college adopted a GibbsCAM College guitar‑building kit and secured grant funding to add two K2CNC 3‑axis routers. In an 18‑week (72‑hour) Saturday course, 20 high school students learned CAD/CAM and CNC machining to model, cut, finish and assemble working electric guitars. The program generated strong enthusiasm, filled immediately, earned funding for another semester (after which it will be offered for a fee), and helped broaden student interest in CNC and future initiatives like additive manufacturing.

Cerritos College

Nick Real

Dean of Technology