Professional Certificate of Competency in Mechanical Engineering

In this interactive 3-month live online course, you will learn to:

• Understand basic mechanical engineering concepts such as force, work, power, moments and torques
• Identify the various balanced and unbalanced forces and loads in a system
• Determine the importance of common engineering material properties in relation to component life and failure
• Perform basic design for static strength
• Apply the theory and principles governing the operation of common mechanical drive components
• Select appropriate gears and bearings
• Understand the underlying principles governing the operation of common mechanical prime movers and actuators
• Distinguish between the various heat transfer mechanisms and understand the principles governing the design of heat-exchangers
• Perform simple design and selection of piping systems and related components
• Monitor, control and evaluate vibrations
• Select the appropriate manufacturing system and understand the principles of design for manufacturing
• Initiate and set up an effective but simple inspection and maintenance programme (including lubrication)
• Appreciate the need for standardisation and understand the common applicable mechanical standards and codes

Course Details

This is an intensive course giving you the essentials of mechanical engineering.

Mechanical engineering, in simple terms, deals with any equipment that moves; this is what makes it perhaps the broadest and diverse of engineering disciplines. The mechanical discipline essentially derives its breadth from the need to design and manufacture everything from small (even nano) individual devices, such as measuring instruments, to large systems such as machine tools and power plants. Easy installation and serviceability are critical to the success of a mechanical system as is operational and design flexibility. Understanding parameters governing the selection and design of mechanical systems is essential for identifying suitable systems for a particular application.

In order to place all these issues in context, a good working knowledge of mechanical principles combined with a solid understanding of key concepts such as force, energy and heat is important. Mechanical power transmission is discussed from the point of view of gears, couplings and bearings. Proper selection and sizing of these critical mechanical components are vital to ensure optimum performance and improved efficiency of a mechanical system. Recently, fluid engineering has undergone significant change and therefore a detailed overview of the underlying principles of fluid power and its applications is vital. The theory behind heat transfer, the various heat transfer mechanisms and the design of heat exchangers are also examined.

Any study of mechanical systems would be incomplete without including a review of mechanical vibrations. This will help you in monitoring, controlling and analyzing vibrations and in conducting fault diagnoses in mechanical systems. The field of maintenance has evolved into a separate and highly specialized function. An effective maintenance regime helps identify failure symptoms and enables initiation of corrective measures, for preventing unscheduled and sometimes catastrophic failures. Lastly, a discussion on the numerous standards, codes and regulations governing mechanical systems, helps put the whole course into perspective.

Benefits of online learning to Students

• Cost-effective: no travel or accommodation necessary
• Interactive: live, interactive sessions let you communicate with your instructor and fellow students
• Flexible: short interactive sessions over the Internet which you can attend from your home or office.
• Practical: perform exercises by remotely accessing our labs and simulation software
• Expert instructors: instructors have extensive industry experience; they are not just 'academics'
• No geographical limits: learn from any location, all you need is an Internet connection
• Constant support: from your instructor(s) and a dedicated Learning Support Officer for the complete duration of the course
• International insight: interact and network with participants from around the globe and gain valuable insight into international practice

Benefits of online learning to Employers

• Lower training costs: no travel or accommodation necessary
• Less downtime: short webinars (60-90 minutes) and flexible training methods means less time away from work
• Retain employees: keep staff who may be considering a qualification as a full-time study
• Increase efficiency: improve your engineering or technical employees’ skills and knowledge
• International insight: students will have access to internationally based professional instructors and students

How Does it Work?

EIT online learning courses involve a combination of live, interactive sessions over the Internet with a professional instructor, set readings, and assignments. The courses include simulation software and remote laboratory applications to let you put theory to practice, and provide you with constant support from a dedicated Learning Support Officer.

Practical Exercises and Remote Laboratories

As part of the groundbreaking new way of teaching, our online engineering courses use a series of remote laboratories (labs) and simulation software, to facilitate your learning and to test the knowledge you gain during your course. These involve complete working labs set up at various locations of the world into which you will be able to log to and proceed through the various practical sessions.

These will be supplemented by simulation software, running either remotely or on your computer, to ensure you gain the requisite hands-on experience. No one can learn much solely from lectures, the labs and simulation software are designed to increase the absorption of the materials and to give you a practical orientation of the learning experience. All this will give you a solid, practical exposure to the key principles covered and will ensure that you obtain maximum benefit from your course.

Course Outline

Module 1: Mechanical Engineering Basics

• Introduction and basic concepts
• Units for engineering quantities
• Interpretation of mechanical drawings
• Friction - importance in mechanical systems, types, static and dynamic friction coefficients

Module 2: Engineering Materials

• Stress-strain relationship
• Properties of engineering materials: strength, hardness, ductility and toughness
• Thermal processing of metals and how it affects their properties
• Ferrous and non-ferrous alloys
• A common failure of modes of materials: Fracture, fatigue, creep and corrosion

Module 3: Mechanical Design

• Basic principles
• Factor of safety
• Static equilibrium
• Design for static strength
• Threaded fasteners
• Keys and keyways
• Riveted joints
• Design for fatigue strength

Module 4: Gears and Bearings

• Gears: Terminologies, types, ratios and gear trains
• Gear selection and gearboxes
• Troubleshooting gear problems
• Bearings: Loads, types, selection and troubleshooting
• Installation guidelines

Module 5: Mechanical Drives

• Belt and chain drives
• Mechanical couplings
• Hydrostatic drives
• Hydrodynamic drives
• Torque converters and fluid couplings
• Clutches: Types, performance and selection
• Brakes: Types, performance and selection

Module 6: Prime Movers

• What is a prime mover?
• Internal combustion engines
• Electric motors
• Hydraulic and air motors
• Gas turbines
• Mechanical variable speed drives
• Hydraulic and pneumatic cylinders
• Comparative merits/demerits of different prime movers
• Primer mover selection criteria, applications

Module 7: Fluid Engineering

• Concepts: Viscous flow and Reynolds number
• Piping, selection and sizing
• Pumps and valves: Types and applications
• Fluid engineering symbols and diagrams
• Analysis of piping systems
• Seals, fittings, flanges gaskets and O-rings
• Mechanical seals: Types, selection and maintenance

Module 8: Theory of Heat Transfer

• Laws of thermodynamics
• Thermal cycles
• Heat exchangers: Types, maintenance and troubleshooting
• Heat pumps
• Air conditioning
• Heat: Conduction, convection and radiation

Module 9: Mechanical Vibrations

• Single degree of freedom system
• Terminologies: Amplitude, phase and frequency
• The natural frequency of vibration
• Multiple degrees of freedom system
• Vibration measurement: sensors, analysers and interpretation
• Use of vibration as a condition monitoring tool
• Troubleshooting and correcting unwanted Vibrations

Module 10: Manufacturing and Production Systems

• Metal production - foundry process
• Cast making and metal melting
• Die and precision casting
• Heat treatment (hardening and softening)
• Hot and cold working of metal
• Presses
• Numerical control
• Machining and metal cutting
• Broaching, shaping and sawing
• Basics of welding and types of welded joints
• Brazing
• CAD/CAM
• Rapid prototyping

Module 11: Maintenance

• Objectives, reliability and availability
• Breakdown, preventive and predictive maintenance
• Standard practices and tools
• Lubrication
• Factors influencing equipment downtime
• Hazardous failures
• Condition monitoring methods
• Non-destructive testing and inspections
• Planning and inspection schedules

Module 12: Mechanical Engineering Codes and Standards

• Need for standardization
• Mechanical engineering standards
• Overview of standards
• Benefits of standardization
• ISO 9000/1
• Six-sigma

Benefits

• Receive a Certificate of Completion from EIT.
• Learn from well-known faculty and industry experts from around the globe.
• Flexibility of attending anytime from anywhere, even when you are working full-time.
• Interact with industry experts during the webinars and get the latest updates/announcements on the subject.
• Experience a global learning with students from various backgrounds and experience which is a great networking opportunity.
• Understand the fundamental concepts of Mechanical Engineering like heat transfer, fluid mechanics, mechanism of gears and bearings, and the principles of machine design.
• Gain practical skills vital in designing of mechanical elements like fasteners, keys and keyways and riveted joints.
• Learn about the latest mechanical process in manufacturing and production, their maintenance and the international standards and codes applicable.

Certification

To obtain a certificate of completion for EIT’s Professional Certificate of Competency, students must achieve a 65% attendance rate at the live, online fortnightly webinars. Detailed summaries/notes can be submitted in lieu of attendance. In addition, students must obtain a mark of 60% in the set assignments which could take the form of written assignments and practical assignments. Students must also obtain a mark of 100% in quizzes. If a student does not achieve the required score, they will be given an opportunity to resubmit the assignment to obtain the required score.

You are expected to spend approximately 5-8 hours per week learning the course content. This includes attending fortnightly webinars that run for about 90 minutes to facilitate class discussion and allow you to ask questions. This professional development program is delivered online and has been designed to fit around full-time work. It will take three months to complete.