Course Details

This course introduces students to the concepts and fundamentals of electronic devices, systems, and circuits. Students will apply the basics of DC/AC circuits; semiconductor and analog circuits; and microcomputers and learn how to use meters, oscilloscopes, and other measuring equipment. Students will also learn the skills required to make algebra calculations in an automation shop environment.

Industrial Safety and Workplace Relations introduces the basic manufacturing processes and the importance of safety in the workplace. Throughout this course, you will study lockout/tag out, confined spaces, and hazardous communications. You will also explore the basics of first aid, ergonomics, and lifting techniques in addition to ladder and scaffolding safety. You will study employer expectations and requirements, and develop essential human-relation skills needed to maintain gainful and satisfying employment. You will become familiarized with problematic areas found in the workforce including: problem solving, understanding relationships and diversity, personal ethics, and developing strong personal and interpersonal and human-relation skills.

Maintenance Basics introduces the basic concepts and terminology used in Automation and Robotics. Throughout this course, you will study basic electrical, Electrical Motor Controls, Programmable Logic Controllers (PLC), HVAC, Pneumatics, Hydraulics, Robotics and Troubleshooting skills.

This course is meant to prepare you for the real world with hands-on approach to learning hydraulic principles and circuitry. Topics include force and energy transmission, identifying American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) hydraulic symbols and understanding how to read and draw the hydraulic schematics. In addition, students will use schematics to construct hydraulic circuits, hydraulic components construction, operation and symbols including prime movers, reservoirs, pumps, gauges, directional control valves, cylinders, motors, and filters.

This course will introduce effective and efficient methods of maintenance to reduce downtime and increase company profits. This will include identification, troubleshooting, repair, and preventative maintenance of machine parts and components such as chain drives, brake and clutch types, gear reducers, pumps lubrication, viscosity, and bearings.

In this course, you will take a hands-on approach to learning hydraulic principles and circuitry. Topics include pneumatic principles and circuitry, force and energy transmission, and identifying American National Standards Institute (ANSI) and International Organization for Standardization (ISO) pneumatic symbols. You will also practice using PSIA, Hg, and PSIG pressure scales, flow, volume and compression rates, and compressors. Finally, this course introduces installation, troubleshooting, and repairing pneumatic systems.

This course prepares students for installing and troubleshooting automated equipment used in manufacturing environments, packaging, transportation, amusement parks, and many other applications used in industry. Students will learn electrical symbols to read and draw electrical schematics and use wiring diagrams and schematics to wire basic circuits including control circuits, power circuits, and over current protection devices. Students will be trained on Arch Flash safety and may choose to become Arch Flash certified according to NFPA 70.

This course prepares students for troubleshooting integrated pneumatic, hydraulic, electrical and mechanical systems found in the manufacturing processes. Troubleshooting and repair is the primary function of an automation manufacturing maintenance technician. The skills students learn in this course will increase their troubleshooting efficiency.

This course examines ladder logic and programming techniques of Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs) through hands-on experience. Students will use Allen Bradley, Siemens, GE and OPTO 22 Programmable Controllers, and will integrate them with sensors, switches, and various outputs; various input and output modules, relay, and ladder logic diagrams; various software packages for ladder logic design, simulation, and programming; and hands-on labs with real components attached for testing.

Students in this course will learn basic blueprint reading skills. Standard industrial practices will be applied on one or more industrial drawings. Principles and applications of the following will be used: lettering, orthographic, oblique, isometric, dimensioning, sectioning, and auxiliary views.

This course covers electricity, motors, controls, and components relative to HVAC-R plus principles of heating and air conditioning. Basic refrigeration systems and applications will be introduced and testing for the EPA certification will be completed for refrigerant gasses. Natural gas testing and certification will be completed during scheduled class instruction.

Renewable Energy examines alternative and sustainable energy sources. During this course, you will conduct a cost-benefit analysis on each form of alternative energy. This will determine what is practical on a large or small scale. You will also study the efficiencies of each alternative energy source as well as what limitations exist in terms of extracting useable energy. You will also explore how a fuel cell works and how it can power automobiles.

In this course students will study lean manufacturing, ISO 9000 overview, manufacturing maintenance strategies, continuous process improvement, process design development, supply chain management, total productive maintenance, Five S overview, cellular manufacturing, and intro to six sigma, troubleshooting processes, and kaizen events. This includes discussions of the seven forms of waste, and describing the role of a Quality Management System. Students will demonstrate the implementation of maintenance management strategies including, reactive, corrective, predictive, preventive, reliability-centered and total productive maintenance.

The course Electric Motor/Drives covers identification of the operating characteristics and nameplate information of most types of AC/DC motors. This course will introduce students to Electric Motor drives, including the installation and programing of an electric motor drive for motor speed control, including ramp up and ramp down parameters. In addition, students will learn how three-phase alternating current (AC) is generated in Delta or Wye circuits. Students will gain knowledge about the distribution of electrical power in a manufacturing facility, including service feeders, branch circuits, and control circuits.

Students in this course are introduced on how to identify conduit and conductor types and recognize their application, determine wire size measurements, hand bend and install EMT and watertight conduit, recognize the number of conductors needed for conduits and junction boxes. In addition, students will lay out an electrical panel and install these items.

Students in this course are introduced to programming an operator panel using graphics and Programmable Logic Controllers (PLCs). Students will learn to convert a PLC program into a graphic Human Machine Interface Panel using GE, Siemens, Opto 22, Modicon, Schneider Electric, Crimson (Red Lion), and Allen Bradley software.

In this course, students will practice basic sensing and locomotion principles as they control a robotic arm. The students will learn about the different types of robots that are available for industrial and servicing applications that will be used for selected activities from manual robot control to computer program mode. Robot maintenance and servicing activities provide skills for Maintenance Technicians and Engineers. Emphasis is placed with hands on activities using FANUC’s R-30i A and R-30i B controllers with classroom M10ia, M1ia, and LR Mate industrial robots. Emphasis is also placed with hands on activities using ABB’s S4 and IRC 5 controllers and classroom IRB 140 industrial robots. Certification for FANUC and ABB are available upon completion of course.

Semiconductor Devices explores diodes and transistor principles. Throughout this course, you will study semiconductor theory, bipolar, and field effect device characteristics as well as modern thyristor devices. You will also examine the use of diodes in communication circuits and power supply applications, bias transistor circuits, the use of small-signal, power and FET amplifiers and measurement of frequency response to an amplifier.

During this course, students are introduced to advanced programming techniques of Programmable Logic Controllers. This course includes advanced topics of Programmable Logic Controllers not covered in the introductory course such as, process control, data acquisition, computer controlled processes, variable speed drives, and networking. It may cover various software packages not included in the introductory class such as Allen Bradley 5000 series programming with hands-on labs and other advanced topics as needed to meet employer needs.

In this course, students will identify and apply AF requirements of corrosion control, lockout/tagout procedures, and foreign objects damage and prevention for aircraft and aerospace equipment. Students will apply technical data, regulatory standards, theory, and types of corrosion, and lockout/tagout. This course trains personnel, to include contractors, who perform direct or indirect maintenance actions/operations on aircraft, missiles, support equipment, components, or active taxiways/runways. Personnel such as security forces, fire department, medical and supply organization workers who may travel through aircraft, missile, support equipment, or component repair work centers, to include driving on active taxiways/runways, must also receive this training. This course will also cover technical data and regulatory standards, theory, types, identification and inspection techniques, prone areas, reporting and documenting procedures, preventative compounds, removal and surface treatment.

This course brings together the content of many preceding courses and applies that content to the requirements of systems integration. The problems associated with interconnection and interworking of different components will be explored, and typical solutions will be illustrated using conveyors, manufacturing tools, and robotic devices. The course is largely a hands-on experience in an automated manufacturing environment.

This course is designed to provide students with entry-level skills in reading relay ladder logic diagrams and in the layout, mounting, and terminating of equipment in control panels used in industry. This course would be an excellent choice for students wishing to enter the job market in the panel shop of a system or control design firm or prepare for industrial applications.

FANUC IR Vision Systems covers basic tasks and procedures required for an operator, technician, engineer or programmer to set up, teach, test, and modify FANUC IR Vision Applications.

Vision System Basics covers the Cognex In-Sight Explorer software and hardware needed to set up a machine vision project. Students will explore the basics of Cognex vision systems and how to set up basic programs, including hardware and accessories, connecting a camera, image acquisition, and digital imagery theory.

Industrial Networking includes a fundamental introduction to computer networking for industrial automation professionals seeking a practical understanding of the use and simple troubleshooting of common Local Area Networks (LANs), Wide Area Networks (WANs), and wireless networks. During this course, you will examine basic professional IT terminology, computer and networking hardware basics, serial communication, and computer networks protocols. You will also explore and evaluate common LAN/WAN devices such as switches, routers, and wireless access points.

This course introduces students to the concepts and terminology of Instrumentation-Process Control using theory and a hands-on approach used in refineries, water treatment plants, boilers, HVAC, refrigeration systems, and many other temperature, pressure, level, flow, analysis, transmission and communication, and automatic control applications. Students will identify applications used in process control and create instrumentation diagrams, along with applying calibration techniques.

This course introduces students to the concepts and terminology of Process Technology Equipment and Systems using theory and a hands-on approach used in refineries, water treatment plants, boilers, and many other temperatures, pressure, level, flow, analysis, transmission and communication, and automatic control applications.

This course is a series of presentations/study in number systems and codes, microprocessor/microcontroller architecture, computer arithmetic, machine and assembler language programming, and microprocessor interfacing. Emphasis is placed on laboratory experiments dealing with machine/assembler language program execution and interfacing using an Arduino starter kit.

Electronics Assembly and Soldering offers you an opportunity to develop the ability to solder and desolder connectors, components, and printed circuit boards using industry standards. You will be introduced to topics including component identification, safety practices, soldering, desoldering, anti-static grounding, and surface mount techniques.

This course challenges students to complete a machine build project including design, layout, construction, operation, and debugging while meeting the given specifications and time limitations. Students will develop schematics for all aspects of the machine and develop and submit required parts.

Students participating in this course have the opportunity to gain valuable work experience in the Automation and Robotics industry while working under the supervision of a plant manager or maintenance technician. This experience will allow the student to observe and get hands-on experience troubleshooting and repairing equipment.

Introduction to Welding covers basic shop safety and basic setup and operation of Thermal cutting equipment, including Oxygen Acetylene Cutting, Plasma Arc Cutting, and Carbon Arc cutting and gouging. Students will master the basic setup and operation of Gas Metal Arc Welding equipment, including changing welding wire spools, removing, and replacing compressed gas cylinders using proper procedures. Students will also master the basic setup and operation of Shielded Metal Arc Welding equipment, including appropriate use of welding electrodes and storage of welding electrodes.

Workplace Success is designed to help students develop essential work habits and attitudes as well as human-relation skills needed to maintain gainful and satisfying employment. Topics include common challenges faced in the workplace, such as presenting yourself professionally, developing a professional work ethic, developing interpersonal skills, navigating office politics successfully, and planning and managing your career.

Job Seeking Skills explores how to prepare and successfully apply to potential career opportunities. During this course, you will be presented with essential job-seeking skills needed to find gainful employment.

Students enrolled in the Automation and Robotics program utilize industry-standard tools, manufacturing equipment, and procedures for entry-level technicians. Students design, build, test, and troubleshoot automated technology directly tied to industrial processes. The program offers students the opportunity to apply hands-on learning to prepare them to meet industry needs in their respective fields. Students of Automation and Robotics explore safety measures, industrial controls, mechanical, fluid power systems, robotics, electronics, instrumentation-process control, communications, programmable logic controllers, building automation, plumbing, solar panels, and other forms of alternative energy.