California Advanced Manufacturing Academy
Now in Buildout — First Cohort Q1 2027

Build More Than
Metal. Build Your
Future.

A 10-week, WIOA-funded intensive coming to Lodi, CA. We're currently building out our facility, securing partnerships, and preparing to launch. Graduate AWS-certified with your own pro-grade equipment, a ready-to-launch business, and proposed job pipelines through SEMA/ARMO, Baileigh Industrial, and BESJ — partnerships in development.

Apply Now → View Programs
CAM.
California Advanced
Manufacturing Academy
10
Week Program
3
Tracks
Q1
2027 — First Cohort
Program Tracks

Three Paths. One Mission.

Each track is 10 weeks, AWS-certified, and built to launch you into a paying career — self-employed or W-2.

Foundation Track

CNC Plasma Fabrication

CertificationAWS D1.1 (MIG)
Income Range$60K–$90K / yr
Duration10 weeks
Cohort10 students

Master CAD/CAM, CNC plasma cutting, MIG welding, and production workflow. You build your own 4'×8' CNC plasma table during the program and take it home — ready to cut brackets, structural steel, gates, and production parts. Access to proposed SEMA/ARMO, Baileigh, and BESJ job boards — apply to any job your skills match.

You Take Home: 4'×8' CNC plasma table (student-built) + plasma cutter + micro PC + PPE + grinder + consumables kit
Learn More →
Flagship Track

Advanced Metal Craft

CertificationAWS D17.1 (TIG)
Income Range$75K–$150K / yr
Duration10 weeks
Cohort10 students

Metal shaping, sheet metal TIG welding, tube fabrication, and aircraft riveting. The highest-skill, highest-margin track — covering vehicle restoration and custom fabrication, from one-off panels and brackets to complete builds. Graduates access the proposed SEMA/ARMO, Baileigh, and BESJ job boards, plus one-off custom fabrication for general contractors, restoration shops, and custom builders.

You Take Home: DC inverter TIG welder + body hammers/dollies + shrinking forks + shot bag + air tools + PPE + argon bottle + steel stock
Learn More →
Build-Out Track

Custom Architectural & Jigged Fabrication

CertificationAWS D1.1 (MIG)
Income Range$80K–$150K / yr
Duration10 weeks
Cohort10 students

Build custom doors, window frames, gates, and railings — plus jigged automotive parts like brackets, mounts, control arms, and suspension components. Every student fabricates their own 4'×6' fixture table during weeks 1-3 and takes it home, along with a DC MIG welder and full tooling. Graduates access the proposed SEMA/ARMO, Baileigh, and BESJ job boards — applying to any job their skills match.

You Take Home: 4'×6' fixture table (student-built) + DC MIG welder + clamp set/fixtures + electric grinder + PPE
Learn More →
Why This Program is Different

You Leave With a Business, Not Just a Certificate

Most trade schools hand you a diploma. We hand you AWS certification, a fully equipped workshop, an LLC, and a direct line to paying customers.

Professional Equipment

Every graduate takes home a complete fabrication workstation worth $2,000+. You build part of it yourself during the program.

AWS Certification

AWS D1.1 (MIG) or D17.1 (TIG) through on-site CWI testing. Industry-recognized credentials employers know and trust.

LLC + Business Launch

We walk you through LLC formation, EIN, bank account, insurance, pricing, and quoting. Most grads are earning before their first loan payment is due.

Employer Connections

Proposed job boards: all graduates from all tracks get access to SEMA/ARMO (restoration, custom, parts), Baileigh Industrial (private job portal), and BESJ contractor network. Apply to any job your skills match.

WIOA Funded

Qualified students attend at no upfront cost through San Joaquin WorkNet ITA funding. $10K per student — fully covered. No student loans.

Academy Job Board

Local contractors, homeowners, and businesses post metal fabrication jobs directly to our Job Board. Free for the public to post, free for alumni to bid. A small processing fee at checkout keeps the portal running and documents WIOA CPI. Browse jobs →

Your Path

From Interest to Income in 5 Steps

Straightforward, supported, and fast.

1

Apply

Contact us for a shop tour and orientation. We'll help you choose the right track.

2

Qualify

We connect you with San Joaquin WorkNet to determine WIOA ITA eligibility.

3

Train

10 weeks of intensive hands-on instruction. AWS certification. Equipment build.

4

Launch

LLC formed, partnership proposals submitted, portfolio ready. You're in business.

5

Earn

Start taking jobs from the board, BESJ referrals, or direct client work.

Current Status

Building Toward Launch

We're in active buildout and checking off milestones. Here's where things stand.

Partnerships
Proposals submitted to SEMA, BESJ, and Baileigh — all pending confirmation.
Facility Buildout
3,000 sq ft industrial shop in Lodi. Site selection in progress.
Certification
Fiscal sponsor pathway in development. ETPL and CalJOBS registration pending sponsor confirmation.
First Cohort
Targeting Spring 2027. Accepting early interest now.
Join the Waitlist →
Partnership Outreach

Partnerships in Development

We have submitted proposals to these organizations and are actively developing partnerships for job pipelines, equipment, endorsements, and community support.

SEMA
ARMO
Baileigh Industrial
Builders' Exchange of San Joaquin
San Joaquin WorkNet
Visionary Home Builders
SEMA / ARMO
Proposed job board access for all graduates. SEMA Career Center + ARMO member network. Students apply to any job their skills match. Proposal submitted Jul 2026.
Baileigh Industrial
Proposed academy endorser. Private job portal under discussion for premier metal shaping shops. 1M+ social reach for graduate features. Endorsement in review.
Builders' Exchange of SJ
Proposed contractor network for all tracks — architectural metal, one-off custom fabrication, gates, railings, repairs. Partnership proposal submitted.
Your Instructor

19+ Years in the Trade

Led by Daniel Twigden — master metal fabricator, teacher, and founder of the Nor Cal Chopper Show. Started in marketing, went back to community college in Australia for his Certificate III in Engineering Fabrication, rented a storage space and started building. Owner of California Coachworks since 2007 — custom vehicle builds, hand-formed metal shaping, TIG welding, tube frame fabrication, vintage aircraft restoration, CNC plasma cutting, and coachbuilding at East Bay Muscle Car. Co-founded Motornation.TV on Amazon Prime Video. Former CTE teacher at Manteca Adult School.

Daniel has taught adult trade education in San Joaquin County, produced video-based training for CCI's NCCER curriculum, and was profiled in Baileigh Industrial's "Baileigh Biography" series. His adult school program was featured on KCRA3 News.

Every skill taught here comes from direct field experience delivering paying work — not from textbooks.

Meet Daniel → ▶ Watch Videos
Daniel Twigden>

Daniel Twigden

Lead Instructor & Founder

SEMA Partnership Proposal — submitted Jul 2026 AWS CWI Certification (in progress) Baileigh Industrial Featured Fabricator 19+ yrs — Aircraft / Auto / Custom / CNC Adult Education Instructor (CCI/NCCER)
Team

Meet the Academy

Two decades of fabrication experience meet two decades of media production — building the academy that trains the next generation.

Daniel Twigden>
Daniel Twigden
Lead Instructor & Founder

19+ year metal fabricator. AWS CWI in progress. Former CTE instructor, Baileigh Biography subject, KCRA3 featured. Founder, Nor Cal Chopper Show. Co-founded Motornation.TV.

Full bio →
Piero De Luca
Piero De Luca
Director of Media Production

20+ year filmmaker and digital content strategist. Creator of Mad Fabricators Society film series (8 seasons on Amazon Prime Video). Co-Founder of Motornation.tv streaming network with Daniel. VP of Moving Media at Stromberg Speed Parts. Produced commercial content for Baileigh Industrial. Co-produced Born Free 7 — The Movie.

Public Job Board

Need Metal Work Done?
Post It Here.

Local homeowners, contractors, and businesses — post your gates, doors, railings, brackets, repairs, and custom fabrication jobs. Academy-trained AWS-certified graduates bid on your work. Free to post.

Post a Job → Browse Open Jobs
FAQ

Common Questions

Everything you need to know about getting started.

We're currently building out our facility and partnerships. The first cohort is set to launch Q1 2027. We're accepting early interest now — submit an inquiry and we'll add you to the waitlist. You'll be first to know when enrollment opens, shop tours begin, and WIOA eligibility screening is available.
Qualified students pay nothing upfront. The $10,000 per-student cost is covered by WIOA ITA funding through San Joaquin WorkNet. We help you through the eligibility process — if you qualify, you attend at no cost.
No. The program starts with safety fundamentals and builds from there. What you need is a willingness to work hard, learn with your hands, and show up every day. If you can read a tape measure and follow instructions, we can teach you the rest.
Each track includes a professional-grade equipment package worth $2,000+: a CNC plasma table (Track 1), TIG welder + shaping tools (Track 2), or a fixture table + MIG welder (Track 3). You build part of it during the program — it's yours to keep.
Tracks 1 and 3 earn AWS D1.1 Certified Welder (MIG). Track 2 earns AWS D17.1 (TIG/sheet metal). All testing is done on-site through our CWI — no third-party fees or waiting lists.
We set you up with a launched LLC (or W-2 placement for Track 2), a BESJ vendor listing, and access to the academy job board plus proposed SEMA/ARMO, Baileigh Industrial, and BESJ job boards — all open to graduates from all tracks. Apply to any job your skills match. Most graduates are earning within weeks of completing the program.
Lodi, California — San Joaquin County. We're currently in facility buildout, targeting approximately 3,000 sq ft of industrial shop space. The specific location will be announced as we approach our Q1 2027 launch. Contact us to get on the early notification list.
10 weeks, full-time, hands-on. This is an intensive program — not a night class. You're in the shop learning, building, and welding. Plan for a full-day commitment, Monday through Friday.
Get Started

Ready to Build Your Future?

Reach out and we'll get you started. We're currently in buildout and accepting early interest — join the waitlist and we'll keep you posted on shop tours, track selection, and WIOA eligibility as we approach our Q1 2027 launch.

Location
Lodi, CA (San Joaquin County)

Phone
(209) 400-5888

Email
californiacoachworks@gmail.com

Instagram
@californiacoachworks

Contact
Daniel Twigden — Lead Instructor & Founder