CNC Milling
Technical Description 2025
Enquiries:
Competition Organising Partner:
Lee Pratt
Advanced Manufacturing Skills academy
[email protected]
WorldSkills UK CNC Training manager:
Adam Youens
[email protected] 1
Introduction
WorldSkills UK is an annual skills competition designed to promote standards and
skills across a wide range of industries, developing competence into excellence.
The CNC Milling competition sees talented engineers test their expertise on a series
of challenging practical tests in a bid to be named WorldSkills UK National
Champion.
WorldSkills UK can bring invaluable benefits to students, colleges, and employers.
Competitors can gain recognition for exceptional skills, injecting dynamism, and
excitement into training.
Employers can enhance their business reputation and improve the skills of their
workforce.
The aim of this technical manual is to help competitors prepare for the CNC Milling
competition from registration, through passive to qualifying and culmination at the
national level.
The guide contains general advice, technical tips and an in-depth overview of the
competition structure and its content.
CNC Milling is a significant sector within the engineering industry, encompassing a
wide range of skills, standards, and ideas. This guide will provide you with a clear
path to follow, from initial registration to the National finals and beyond.
Role Overview
The CNC machinist / Technician role can cover a wide range of skills such as
machine setting and operating, CNC programming and editing and the use of
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CAD/CAM software to generate efficient machining strategies that can be output as
CNC programs.
They are expected to safely prove out CNC programs while ensuring that the
production process is also optimised. Completed components must be checked and
inspected against tight tolerances and quality standards
Key attributes required by all CNC technicians wherever they work are efficient
work organisation, self-management, communication, interpersonal skills and
problem-solving.
They must have the ability to work safely and rigorously adhere to regulations,
manufacturer’s instructions, and organisational requirements. These universal traits
are the benchmark of an outstanding CNC technician.
Resources
For information and resources, including how to register, competition rules, and the
steps to competing, visit:
Mastercam home learning edition
Autodesk Fusion 360 Download
Competition Page
WorldSkills competition Rules
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Careers Page
Core competencies
Projects will be designed to test competitor's technical ability to;
● Follow relevant safety practises
● Read engineering drawings
● Understand tolerances
● Create wireframe geometry
● Create and modify solid models
● Program CNC toolpaths from solid models and wireframe
● Produce CNC programs
● Set a machine vice
● Set tool information on machine
● Calculate speeds and feeds
● Run CNC programs safely
● Accurately measure and adjust tool information
● Compete under time pressure
Competition Structure
Registration
Once you have completed your registration (and accepted all terms and conditions)
you will receive an email confirmation and further information on how to complete
the entry stage.
Prospective students should try to familiarise themselves with working under
competition-style activities, for example, have a fellow student judge a completed
work task during a timed practical session at a college/training provider.
Entry Stage
The entry test consists of multiple-choice type questions.
It covers a range of relevant topics and is aimed at challenging and assessing your
knowledge of general and specific topics of CNC machining and Engineering
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When all registered entrants have completed the entry stage test, you will be
notified if you have scored high enough to progress to the National Qualifying
round.
National Qualifiers
Ensure you are ready to compete in your National Qualifier by reading and
understanding the project brief, and core competencies. This outlines the tasks you
will be expected to carry out.
Ask your lecturer/employer for help in any areas where you feel you may have any
knowledge gaps and work to improve/gain the necessary skills.
The Qualifying task will be to program and produce a component to the correct
quality standards on a CNC Milling machine within a specified time limit. A 2D
engineering drawing will be provided.
Any CAD/CAM system may be used to create the program. The finished test project
component must be sent for judging with a copy of the CAD/CAM file and output
CNC code.
The test project should be sent to:
Lee Pratt
UWTSD
IQ Building
Swansea
SA1 8EW
WorldSkills UK Pre-National training
At the WorldSkills UK National competition competitors must use CAD/CAM software
to produce CNC programs, you will have a choice of two industry standard systems:
MasterCAM
Autodesk Fusion 360
As part of the invitation to compete at the National Finals, you will have the chance
to join free training sessions on your chosen software, run by our sponsors,
MasterCAM UK and Autodesk.
WorldSkills UK National Final
The highest scoring competitors across the National Qualifier will be invited to
compete at the finals.
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The competition task will be to program and produce a component to the correct
quality standards on a CNC Milling machine within a specified time limit. A 2D
engineering drawing will be provided and in some cases a 3D CAD model
Ensure you are ready to compete in your WorldSkills UK Live final by reading and
understanding the project brief, core competencies. This outlines the type of tasks
you will be expected to carry out.
Ask your lecturer/employer for help in any areas where you feel you may have any
knowledge gaps and work to improve/gain the necessary skills.
Self-directed training
All competitors will need to practice to make it to the National finals. Dedication is
key to confident performance in a competition.
Free training will be provided on your chosen CAM system, either MasterCAM or
Fusion 360.
Project overview
While the project drawings and models can vary greatly within CNC milling, we have
reduced the number of features to test core skills while keeping cost manageable
for organisers and entrants. So only the following features will be included
Included features Optional features
-Profile contours -Reamed holes
-Pockets -Tapped holes
-Slots, open or closed -Bosses
-Drilled holes -Bores
-Chamfers -Engraving
-Radii
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Project example: National qualifiers 2022
Design specification
Material Aluminium 100x100x50mm
Time 7h
Additional data ● 2D drawing with 3D shaded view; all dimensions included
● Work on 2 or 3 faces
● Minimum size for a finished part is not smaller than
50x50x30mm
● Will be possible with minimal tooling 6mm and 12mm end
mills with 9.8mm drilling
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Project example: National finals 2022
Design specification
Material Aluminium 100x150x50mm
Time 7h (3h programming / 4h machining)
Additional data ● 2D drawing with 3D shaded view; critical dimensions only
● 3D step file
● Work on 2 or 3 faces
● Minimum size for a finished part is not smaller than
30x30x10mm
● Will use any combination of tooling from the equipment list
Marking scheme
The marking scheme is designed to fairly compare every competitor’s work.
Marking is split between measurement and judgement aspects.
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Measurement
Any dimension on the drawing can be a measurement mark. The value of a given
dimension is decided by its tolerance, which are split into:
● Main dimensions (±0.005mm to ±0.02mm)
● Secondary dimensions (±0.04mm)
● General tolerance (±0.1mm)
● Surface finish (0.8Ra to 1.6Ra)
All projects will be supplied with a mark summary form. The mark summary form
will show only the number of marks assigned to each aspect, not the breakdown of
marks (e.g., main dimensions: 40 marks maximum).
All marks for measurement criteria are “all or nothing”, e.g., if a dimension is
specified at 40±0.04, full marks will be awarded from 39.960mm to 40.040mm.
Anything outside of this will be awarded zero marks.
Judgement
Judgement marks are more subjective, for aspects such as:
● False cuts (collisions)
● Vibration
● Scratches
● Machine deburring
● Hand deburring
Judges will work to a judgement handbook with examples of each criterion. Each
judge will reveal a value from zero to three, and an average will be taken. For
example, if all judges assess the machine deburring as a two overall, the competitor
will receive 66% of the possible marks. Judgement marking accounts for only 10% of
the overall score.
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Edges should be broken on machine where possible:
Avoid the following:
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Equipment
During delivery of the National finals, tooling and equipment will be provided by
WorldSkills UK and various competition sponsors.
Qualifying Tooling:
Typical Tooling need to complete the qualifying round would be:
Ø10mm Endmill
Ø6mm Endmill
Chamfer cutter
Drills and taps (M6 typical)
Software
CAD/CAM
Mastercam home learning edition Autodesk Fusion 360 Download
Training
Self-directed training
All competitors will need to practice to make it to the National finals. Dedication is
key to confident performance in a competition.
National finals
What to expect
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Employers can enter the competition floor with the permission of the competition
manager; they can take sponsorship photos or gain a better understanding of the
competition itself. Competitors are expected to wear the appropriate H&S
equipment (e.g., safety boots, glasses) as well as a company work top and trousers
while competing.
The competition stand will be prepared with all the equipment necessary to
compete. Each competitor will have a computer they can password protect, as well
as a USB to back up files. There will be one set of measuring equipment and cutting
tools per machine, which will be checked and cleaned between each competitor’s
shift.
An example timetable:
Beyond the National finals
Looking beyond the National finals, there are a host of opportunities for
competitors. Age-eligible competitors who show the highest skills, passion, and
drive to compete will be invited to train for the EuroSkills and WorldSkills
international competitions.
Those who are not eligible for international competitions may join the Champions
programme, which allows continued involvement, including the opportunity to work
with WorldSkills UK and visit schools, colleges, and events to inspire the next
generations.
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Alternatively, if training is of interest to you, you could consider supporting
WorldSkills UK with organising and training, and even helping to run the National
finals.
Get inspired and become a part of Team UK today!
