Machinists teaching
machinists.
Teaching people to program GibbsCAM since 2014. Every course is built and taught by someone who spent their career making parts before they ever taught a class.
Cognus at a glance
Why we exist
Most people learn GibbsCAM the hard way.
A couple of days with a reseller when the software gets installed. A manual. Then years of working it out on live jobs, under a due date, with scrap on the line.
It works, eventually. It also means two programmers in the same shop solve the same part two different ways, neither one is the fastest way, and the company is paying for a seat it uses maybe half of.
Cognus Institute was founded in 2014 to close that gap.
We build structured GibbsCAM training taught by people who ran parts for a living long before they taught a class. You are not getting a features tour. You are getting the specific workflows, the setup decisions, and the shortcuts a working programmer actually uses to get a good part out the door.
Today that training runs from a first toolpath through 5-axis and multi-task turning, delivered to machinists and shops across North America, Europe, and beyond.
What makes it different
Three things you will notice in the first hour.
Plenty of training will show you where the buttons are. Ours is built by people who had to live with the consequences of pressing them.
01
Daily, hands-on GibbsCAM users
Our instructors are not presenters reading a script. They work in GibbsCAM every day and have done for years, which is why they can explain not just what a function does, but when it is the wrong choice.
02
Manufacturing first, software second
Between them our instructors carry 82 years of shop experience. They understand fixturing, tooling, and what the machine is going to do with the code, so the best practice they teach is one that holds up on the floor.
03
A path, not a pile of videos
Courses build on each other in a deliberate order. Start with GibbsCAM Essentials, then branch into the milling track or the turning track. You always know what comes next.
The team
Meet your instructors.
Seasoned professionals who know GibbsCAM inside out, and who know the shop it has to survive. Each course page names the instructor teaching it.
Andy Barney
Applications Engineer
Andy has 25 years of experience in CAD/CAM software and the manufacturing industry, combining deep technical knowledge with years of machining and programming across multiple CAM systems. His 17 years of training experience let him understand what a customer is actually stuck on and how to solve it.
Stephen Cunningham
Instructor
With over 35 years of experience in the manufacturing industry and 29 years as a seasoned GibbsCAM user, Stephen is passionate about sharing his expertise. He strives to make learning both enjoyable and accessible for all users.
Derek Frith
Instructor
A journeyman machinist, CNC programmer, and former machine shop manager. Derek thrives on teaching students how to program the challenging parts they have struggled with.
Brian Slonski
Instructor
A CNC 5-axis programmer and machinist with 20 years of experience. Brian enjoys helping students solve challenging problems and introducing them to powerful new features, so they can take on tougher programming and get parts out the door.
How live classes actually run. Live Online classes are taught over Zoom with the instructor working in GibbsCAM on screen, so you are watching the software being driven. You can ask questions as you go and share your own screen when you get stuck on your part.
How we teach
Not just the software. The machine.
Go beyond the basic manuals. Our training is built on decades of real-world manufacturing experience, focusing on the specific techniques and shortcuts you need to be effective on the shop floor.
Whether you are starting with the essentials or mastering 5-Axis, we have a path designed for your specific needs.
Browse the full catalog
Since 2014 we have trained machinists in 11 countries, including programmers at some of the largest aerospace, defense, and precision manufacturers in North America.
8,176
Machinists trained
82
Years of shop expertise
50
Hours of training
314
Videos in our library
Where to next
Where do you want to go next?
Three routes, depending on whether you are training yourself, training a team, or looking for a seat to practice on at home.
For individuals
Browse the course catalog
Five courses across milling and turning, on demand or live online. See the full curriculum, hours, and pricing for each.
See all coursesFor shops and teams
Train your whole floor
Consistent GibbsCAM training across every programmer, with per-seat volume pricing, quotes, and POs.
Request team pricingFor learners at home
Get a GibbsCAM Student License
A 365-day non-commercial learning seat so you can practice what you are taught, with over two hours of free training included.
See the Student License