Where did you learn to program?

No. That was the only Calypso basic training I received, ofcourse my experience with pc-dmis helped, probably the major reason why I picked up the new software so quick. But my hat goes off to the my trainer Mark Boucher, who did an exptional job in training me and going over some complex features that are not usually part of basic class

I was also trained by Zeiss almost a year later on more advanced features, it wasnt a class per se, just one day custom class on Profiles, and I wasn't very impressd with them at all. They lacked knowledge of GD&T and real life experience with real parts in the real shop environment. I felt like Mark new more than they did. There was a few times when they did not know what they were doing, I had to jump in and help them. They provided me with wrong information more than one occasion. Two of them showed up, one guy was a real teacher the other guy was a trainee, and I spent most of the time with a trainee, the other guy was just doing something else and would only help out once in a while.

I also think that Calypso is easier to work with, especially if you have some cmm experience. That is another reason why I was able to learn so fast, and did not need any additional training for a year. After one class, I was able to do everything I needed and much more(Variables PCM, Scanning, BF alignment, cut features in half, VP/SpacePoints and much more), and YES Calyspo portal was another way of learning for me.

I am recommending the Forums, but as most of you already know that its not enough, you need a basic training regardless of the software. You cannot just learn everything rom forums, especially if you have zero knowledge of the software. Yes I believe that I learned more from the forums, over the years.

All I am trying to say, is that the third party training IMO is simply the best, from my experience with Hexagon and Zeiss training. Sure it is expensive, BUT it well worth it. All my OEM experience is just bla, out of 10, I give it 6, all of my experience with a third party is 10+

So am I to assume that the previous training you received from Hexagon (and your prior experience) did not help you out prior to the 4 days of THEIR training? If you started from scratch with Calypso (i.e. a brain hard drive erase) and went to 'complex programming' in just 96 hours I'll order up the Zeiss blue plate special as well. Very impressive.

No. That was the only Calypso basic training I received, ofcourse my experience with pc-dmis helped, probably the major reason why I picked up the new software so quick. But my hat goes off to the my trainer Mark Boucher, who did an exptional job in training me and going over some complex features that are not usually part of basic class

I was also trained by Zeiss almost a year later on more advanced features, it wasnt a class per se, just one day custom class on Profiles, and I wasn't very impressd with them at all. They lacked knowledge of GD&T and real life experience with real parts in the real shop environment. I felt like Mark new more than they did. There was a few times when they did not know what they were doing, I had to jump in and help them. They provided me with wrong information more than one occasion. Two of them showed up, one guy was a real teacher the other guy was a trainee, and I spent most of the time with a trainee, the other guy was just doing something else and would only help out once in a while.

I also think that Calypso is easier to work with, especially if you have some cmm experience. That is another reason why I was able to learn so fast, and did not need any additional training for a year. After one class, I was able to do everything I needed and much more(Variables PCM, Scanning, BF alignment, cut features in half, VP/SpacePoints and much more), and YES Calyspo portal was another way of learning for me.

I am recommending the Forums, but as most of you already know that its not enough, you need a basic training regardless of the software. You cannot just learn everything rom forums, especially if you have zero knowledge of the software. Yes I believe that I learned more from the forums, over the years.

All I am trying to say, is that the third party training IMO is simply the best, from my experience with Hexagon and Zeiss training. Sure it is expensive, BUT it well worth it. All my OEM experience is just bla, out of 10, I give it 6, all of my experience with a third party is 10+

So am I to assume that the previous training you received from Hexagon (and your prior experience) did not help you out prior to the 4 days of THEIR training? If you started from scratch with Calypso (i.e. a brain hard drive erase) and went to 'complex programming' in just 96 hours I'll order up the Zeiss blue plate special as well. Very impressive.