Who We Work With
High schools running shop, design, or applied tech programs. Colleges and universities with fabrication labs, industrial design programs, or maker engineering programs. Public libraries with makerspaces. Community makerspaces with educational focus. Trade and technical schools.
EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY: Curriculum, Teacher Onboarding, and Certification
EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY is our CAD and CNC certification program built specifically for K-12 and post-secondary classrooms. It’s one of the biggest reasons school districts choose us over a standard hardware purchase, and it’s why programs that start with us tend to expand in year two rather than stall out after the first cohort.
What it includes:
Structured curriculum mapped to industry-standard CAD and CNC workflows. Built for classroom delivery with lesson plans, project sequences, and assessment material ready to use.
Teacher onboarding so the instructor running the program isn’t left to figure it out alone. Trained-up teachers run better classrooms and produce better students.
Student certification at the end of the program. Students leave with a credential they can take to a college, an apprenticeship, or a first job.
Long-term classroom continuity. The curriculum and teacher resources are built so the program is still running well three, five, ten years later, regardless of which staff member is teaching it in year five.
EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY pairs naturally with our ACADEMY series CNCs (enclosed for student safety) and the DISCOVERY series for open-classroom use, plus the AEON Mira 5S Redline for programs adding a CO2 laser. Curriculum content is delivered through the EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY learning platform.
Learn more: EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY
Suggested Hardware Starting Points
ACADEMY 1 (12″ x 12″) or ACADEMY 2 (12″ x 24″) with EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY curriculum: Standard package for high school and college classrooms. Safety enclosure, eCNC controller, optimized for student operators.
DISCOVERY 1 or DISCOVERY 2 with EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY curriculum: Open-classroom CNC for programs without a need for an enclosure.
AEON Mira 5S Redline with curriculum integration: Compact CO2 laser for programs adding laser work to an existing CAD or CNC curriculum.
Custom Lab Configurations: For larger fabrication labs, we build configurations across CNC routers, lasers, software, and curriculum based on program focus and student volume.
Education Pricing and Packages
Education pricing is available on most CNC and laser equipment for schools, colleges, libraries, and qualified makerspaces. Pricing varies by configuration and curriculum scope. Send us your program details for a written quote.
Training and Curriculum Support
EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY includes teacher onboarding so educators are confident with the equipment and the curriculum before students walk into the lab. Curriculum delivery covers safety protocols, project sequences, assessments, and the certification pathway. We work with schools at the program level, not just the equipment level.
Safety and Warranty Considerations for Schools
Education environments need extra attention to safety protocols, lockout procedures, and access controls. EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY includes safety frameworks suitable for classroom use. Warranty coverage works the same as commercial installs.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you offer education pricing?
Yes. Schools, colleges, universities, libraries, and qualified makerspaces qualify for education pricing on most CNC and laser equipment. Send us your program details for a quote.
Which CNC or laser is best for a school?
For most classroom programs, the ACADEMY series (enclosed) or DISCOVERY series (open) is the right CNC choice. For laser work, the AEON Mira 5S Redline pairs cleanly with classroom programs. The right combination depends on your program focus, student volume, and available space. We help match the equipment to the program and the EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY curriculum.
What’s included in EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY?
Structured CAD and CNC curriculum, lesson plans, project sequences, assessment material, teacher onboarding, student certification, and ongoing classroom continuity resources. Delivered through the EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY platform and supported as part of our education engagement.
Can students operate the laser safely?
With proper training, safety protocols, and access controls in place, students can operate CNC and laser equipment safely. EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY includes the safety frameworks classrooms need.
Talk to Us About Your Program
Whether you’re outfitting a new fabrication lab or upgrading an existing one, we’ll help you build the right combination of hardware, software, and EMPOWER[ED] ACADEMY curriculum. Get in touch to start the conversation.