Advanced Manufacturing Practices
Description
This workshop will be a two day face-to-face interaction with instructors to learn about hardware and complete assembly tasks seen in advanced manufacturing practices. The students will learn about various types of fasteners, learn to use precision measurement hardware such as calipers & micrometers, learn how to use digital multi-meter with basic electrical circuits, assemble pneumatic equipment, along with assembling & testing a linear motion control stage used in fields such as mechatronics.
Frequently Asked Questions
What 2yr/4r degree programs are these modules appropriate for?
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What types courses are these modules appropriate for?
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Or any related coursework involving mechanical fabrication training
What academic level are these modules appropriate for?
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What student backgrounds are these modules appropriate for?
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What kinds of formats have been used with these modules?
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Learning Objectives
Technical and Information Literacy
Students will read, analyze, and utilize technical documents such as spreadsheets, basic fluid power schematics, basic industrial prints, and basic electrical schematics.
Critical Thinking / Systems Level Troubleshooting
Students will be applying basic troubleshooting techniques to various industrial manufacturing systems which include; fluid power systems, electrical systems, and mechanical systems.
Working Collaboratively
Students will interact in groups to work on assembly tasks in a non-competitive environment.
Learning Outcomes
- Identify and describe basic measurement tools
- Understand how to use the basic measurement tools
- Identify and describe elements of quality tools to its respective industrial production and processes
- Describe basic mechanical systems
- Describe basic machining/assembly concepts
- Identify and explain basic electrical concepts
- Understand basic assembly tasks for fluid power systems
- Demonstrate basic technical print reading
- Demonstrate the ability to use basic power tools
- Demonstrate the ability to assemble and crimp electrical connectors.
- Describe various types of fasteners and understand where they are used.
Required Tools and Equipment
Many of these custom-learning activities require specific tools and equipment.
If You See This

You Need This
NEATEC toolkit inventory, which included the precision measurement tools as well as various wrenches and screwdrivers and the screw and bolt boxes

Basic equipment list for the electricity/electronics portion including the DMM, crimping tool, and Arduino kit (if used).

Pneumatics assembly parts and mechanical stage
Hands-on Activities
Lab 1 Measuring and Learning about Bolts & Fasteners
Here students learn to use calipers and micrometer to do accurate measurements.
Students also learn about fasteners, and become familiar with the distinct types of fasteners and understand their uses. A lab exercise will demonstrate their knowledge by sorting a group of various bolts by measuring, diameter, pitch, and visual cues. Use the following measuring equipment; Calipers, Micrometers, measuring tape, etc. (note: non-digital measuring devices). Results will be tested against thread “checkers”.
Lab 2 Basic Electronics
Learn how to crimp wires correctly using crimping hardware. Discuss how to measure voltage and current with a multi-meter. Build and test basic series and parallel circuits to show the differences between circuit types.
Lab 3 Assemble & Test a Pneumatic System
Students here assemble pneumatic manifold with flanges, using Teflon tape, crescent wrenches, Allen wrenches, place O-ring seals. Test and perform maintenance tasks on assembled pneumatic system such as; star pattern tightening on 6 bolt flange, Teflon tape application, valve attachment/adjustment. (fix an air leak, miss-aligned O-ring.)
Lab 4 Assemble/Test Mechanical Drive System
Assemble a linear stage paying close attention to detail and machine alignment. Discus how to tighten screws properly for a rail system. This procedure is sometimes termed as “floating in” alignment. Nothing gets tightened down completely until all bolts are property adjusted.
-Discuss/Demonstrate how to wire together a servo motor, Arduino, motor controller, and power supply.
-Discuss how accuracy testing is conducted using position indicators.