About

This is a lighter less technical version of the more detailed alternative course "Professional Certificate of Competency in Mechanical Engineering".

Mechanical engineering in simple terms deals with any equipment that moves; this is what makes it perhaps the most broad 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 is vital to ensuring 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 is 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 analysing vibrations and in conducting fault diagnoses in mechanical systems.

The field of maintenance has evolved into a separate and highly specialised 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 program into perspective.