Mechanical Technology

Introduction to Engineering Technology is designed to provide students with the foundation necessary to succeed in the Mechanical Engineering Technology program and in industry. The course will introduce students to important concepts in industry to include safety, maintenance, and quality. Students will learn how to create the type of technical reports industry desires through individual and group design projects. Key concepts such as critical thinking, problem solving, and team building will be exercised through classroom activities. Students obtain resume writing and interview skills. Tours of local manufacturing facilities will provide students the opportunity to experience the manufacturing environment allowing for experiences they can relate to in future classes.

This course is designed to provide students with a background in reading blueprints and technical schematics. Students will learn the different components, and terminology involved in various types of drawings and diagrams they may come across in industry. The class encompasses machining, construction, and welding drawings, as well as how to read electrical, hydraulic, pneumatic, piping, instrumentation, and refrigeration. Students will learn the importance of understanding how to read drawings and diagrams as well as how to troubleshoot a system.

The first half of the course teaches fundamentals of engineering drawing, modeling, and configurations utilizing Autodesk Inventor. Students will learn parametric modeling techniques, how to organize the model tree and advanced 3D modeling techniques. The second half of the course teaches students how to bring their creations to life through simulation and animation utilizing Autodesk 3D Studio. The course is instructed utilizing a hands on approach allowing the students to immediately apply concepts learned through tutorials and classroom instruction.

This course provides an overview of the field of Quality Control and Quality Assurance practices in manufacturing. Students will learn International Quality Standards (ISO 9000, ASTM, Six Sigma, etc.) and how quality improvement methodologies can be used to solve manufacturing problems. Topics include statistical concepts, data collection techniques, problem solving tools and introduction to the scientific method of problem solving.

Principles of Fluid Power Systems is a course designed to acquaint students with a broad overview of hydraulic and pneumatic concepts. The course will cover fundamental laws and principles of fluid power (both compressible and non-compressible fluids) and operation of hydraulic and pneumatic components including valves, pumps, cylinders and motors. The course includes the study of circuits and troubleshooting and repair.

This course is designed to acquaint students with a broad overview of preventive maintenance, predictive maintenance, non-destructive testing, and computerized maintenance. The course will cover the economic benefits of properly maintaining manufacturing equipment to minimize down time and capital cost of premature replacement by teaching students the importance of preventive maintenance programs and the techniques involved in Total Productive Maintenance (TPM). Students will learn how to create inspection and preventative maintenance plans based on machines in the lab and processes in industry.

This course is designed to provide students with an understanding of troubleshooting issues in industry. The course will introduce students to important concepts related to troubleshooting hydraulic, pneumatic, and electrical systems as well as programmable logic controllers. Students will learn various methods of troubleshooting through hands-on labs similar to the manufacturing environment. Students will have the opportunity to troubleshoot on hydraulic, pneumatic, motor control, lubrication, process control, and programmable logic controller trainers.

This course covers the importance of worker safety in the workplace and explores components of effective safety programs. Students will learn about OSHA standards and what effect it has on industry. The class also teaches students about various lifting, fire, and health hazards and how to operate safely in the work environment.

This course covers the roles and responsibilities of a supervisor or team leader and examines the skills required to effectively lead people and manage their efforts. Topics include effective communications, leadership, problem solving, decision making, continuous quality improvement, change, stress management, diversity issues, and training. Both union and non-union environments are examined.

This course provides hands-on experience in robotics, controls, and automation. Students will build on knowledge gained in the computer aided manufacturing and programmable logic controllers courses. Utilizing industrial equipment students will learn and understand how to program, operate, and troubleshoot FANUC robots. Students will also program and operate with robots and other automated systems together to gain an understanding of their integration. This will build and further enhance their knowledge of PLC’s and how to control systems on a higher level. The course wraps up with a systems approach to troubleshooting robotics and automated controls.