REPORT 191 PROGRAMMES
SUBJECT SYLLABUS
MECHANOTECHNICS N4
SUBJECT CODE: 8190194
IMPLEMENTATION: JANUARY 2021
Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
CONTENTS PAGE
1. General Aims 3
2. Specific Aims 3
3. Pre-requisite 3
4. Duration 3
5. Evaluation 3
6. Learning content 4
7. Mark Allocation 4
8. Module 1: Workshop layout 5
9. Module 2: Metal protection 5
10. Module 3: Lubrication 6
11. Module 4: Precision measuring of machine parts 6
12. Module 5: Gear drives 8
13. Module 6: Belt drives 8
14. Module 7: Hydraulic systems 9
15. Module 8: Bearings 10
16. Module 9: Metal cutting machines 11
17. Didactic guidelines 11
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Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
1. General aims
To acquaint the student with workshop processes, procedures, practices and
calculations needed for the practical work situation.
To help the student to gain an understanding of installation, maintenance and
application of equipment in mechanical engineering.
2. Specific aims
To provide the prospective craftsman and mechanical supervisor with the required
theoretical knowledge.
To equip the person specialising in the aspects prescribed by the syllabus with the
basic principles and theory with regard to mechanical engineering.
3. Prerequisite
A student must have passed at least the National Certificate Vocational, Engineering
Related Design (ERD) Level 4 or National Certificate N3 Engineering with a pass in
Mechanotechnology N3. A student who has obtained a Senior Certificate (NSC) or
equivalent with a pass in Mathematics, Technical Mathematics, Physical Science, and
any Mechanical subjects.
4. Duration
Full-time: 7.5 hours per week for one Trimester. This instructional offering may also be
offered part-time.
5. Evaluation
5.1 Evaluation is conducted continuously by means of class test. An Internal
Continuous Assessment (ICASS) mark of at least 40% as well as a minimum
examination mark of 40% is required to pass the instructional offering. The ICASS
mark and the examination mark will be calculated together in a ratio of 40:60 to
derive the promotion mark.
5.2 The examination in Mechanotechnics N4 (Engineering Studies - Report 191) will be
conducted as follows:
5.2.1. ONE PAPER will be written.
5.2.2. PAPER 1: Modules 1 to 9 MARKS: 100
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Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
5.2.3. DURATION: 3 HOURS
5.2.4 WEIGHTING: Recall, comprehension, application, analysis, synthesis and
evaluation of learning content are important aspects in determining a student’s
knowledge and understanding of the learning content of the instructional offering.
The following weights are consequently awarded to each category:
Knowledge and Understanding Applying Analysing / Synthesis and
Evaluating
30 - 45 20 – 30 15 – 25
6. Learning content
THEORETICAL BACKGROUND
It is essential that this section should be illustrated and evaluated within the context of
practical workshop situation.
7. Mark allocation in the examination as an indication of the
weighting of the different modules
MODULES WEIGHTING
1. Workshop Layout 5
2. Metal Protection 5
3. Lubrication 5
4. Precision measuring of 15
machine parts
5. Gear drive 15
6. Belt drives 5
7. Hydraulic systems 20
8. Bearings 15
9. Metal cutting machines 15
TOTAL 100
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Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
Module 1: Workshop Layout
General aim
1.1 Plan the layout of a workshop with due consideration of all the principles, advantages and
disadvantages, factors, types of construct ion and various different types of processes.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT
The student must be able to:
1. Introduction to workshop layout. List the advantages and disadvantages of good workshop
layout
List the factors that should be considered in the design of
workshop layout.
2. Types of production. Explain the differences between mass, individual and batch
production.
3. Factory Layout Draw diagrams to illustrate the differences between the
following processes of layouts - Product, Fixed and
Process
4. Graphic layout Techniques Draw two dimensional and three dimensional models
5. Considerations when placing Explain how materials are handled in the workshop.
machines in a factory
Explain what is meant by each of the following
requirements of process layout:
a) Economic placing of various sections
b) Highly skilled workers
c) Adaptability of inspection methods
d) Thorough planning of production.
Module 2: Metal protection
Aim
2.1 Compare various types of corrosion, testing for corrosion and the relevant processes for
preserving metal.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
1. Introduction to corrosion and its Describe corrosion as the destruction of a material as
prevention. a result of chemical, electrochemical or metallurgic
interaction between the material and the environment.
2. Classification of corrosion. Explain the two main classes of corrosion.
3. Different forms of corrosion Explain the following forms of corrosion: Surface
corrosion:
a) Stress corrosion
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Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
b) Galvanic corrosion
c) Inter –crystalline corrosion
d) Pitting corrosion.
4. Corrosion tests Explain the most common types of corrosion tests
5. Metal protection process Describe what each of the following metal –protection
involves:
a) Cathodic protection
b) Electroplating
c) Anodising
d) Phosphating.
6. Surface preparation for painting Describe the following processes that we use to
prepare steel for spray painting: Sandblast cleaning,
Descaling and Grease removal
7. Painting process Explain the following painting processes: Air spray
painting, Airless spray painting, Electrostatic spray
painting and Dip painting.
List advantages and disadvantages of using each of
the painting processes.
MODULE 3: Lubrication
AIMS
3.1 Identify types of lubricants, lubrication methods and explain uses of lubricants
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT
The student must be able to:
1. Classification of lubricants List the different classes of lubricants and give
examples of each.
2. Fluid film bearings Describe in detail hydrodynamic and hydrostatic
lubrication.
3. Selection of lubricants List factors that should be considered when selecting
lubricants
4. Lubrication devices Draw and label different types of lubricating devices.
5. Uses of lubricants List different types of lubricants and their uses.
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Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
MODULE 4: Precision measuring of machine parts
Aims
4.1 Apply precision measuring of machine parts and relevant calculations on machine parts
by means of precision measuring instruments
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT
The student must be able to:
1. Basic Principles Describe the concepts and terminology of precision
measuring machines.
2. Determining tapers using balls Explain how to measure tapers with balls, sine bars
and rollers
3. Determining Tapers of taper Explain how to use precision balls to determine the
taper of a small ring a small ring gauge and internal
plugs
tapers.
4. Determining angles of dovetails Analyse how to use balls and slip gauges are used
to determine the taper of a taper plug.
Explain how balls or rollers are used to determine
angles of dovetails.
5. Sine bars Draw and label a taper plug gauge with a sine bar
Calculate an inclined and included angles using
sine bars.
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Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
Module 5: Gear drives
Aim
5.1 Apply elementary calculations in respect of spur gear systems, as well as epicyclic
gear systems.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
1. Introduction to gear drives List advantages and disadvantages of gear drives when
compared with v –belt drives and chain drives.
Draw and label the following gear parts:
2. Gear terminology
a) Involute,
b) Module,
c) Line of action and pressure angle,
d) Pitch circle diameter,
e) Circular pitch,
f) Tooth thickness,
g) Addendum,
h) Dedendum,
i) Clearance,
j) Whole depth,
k) Working depth,
l) Blank or outside diameter,
m) Centre distance between gears on parallel shafts.
Explain the working principles of simple and compound
3. Simple and compound gear
gear trains.
trains.
Calculate the following on simple compound gear
trains:
a) Module,
b) Pitch circle diameter,
c) Circular pitch,
d) Tooth thickness,
e) Addendum, Dedendum,
f) Clearance, Whole depth,
g) Working depth,
h) Blank or outside diameter,
i) Centre distance between shafts.
4. Epicyclic gear systems
Explain basic working principle of epicyclic gear
system.
Explain the following: Speed increase with sun gear
stationary, Speed increase with annulus stationary,
Speed reduction with sun gear stationary, Speed
increase and direction reversal with planet stationary.
5. Uses of epicyclic gears
List situations where epicyclic gears are used.
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Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
List advantages and disadvantages of epicyclic
Explain the method of calculating epicyclic gear drives.
6. Calculations of epicyclic gears
Calculate the following epicyclic gears:
a) The number of teeth or the revolutions per minute,
b) The number of teeth or the revolution per minute of
the minute of input shaft,
c) Intermediate shaft or output shaft, PCD
Module 6: Belt drives
Aim
6.1 Apply calculations of a flat, vee and conveyor belt drives
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
1. Introduction to belt drives Explain concepts and terminology.
Draw and explain belt drives – flat, open, crossed and
vee belt drives.
2. Belt drive Calculate the following on belt drives:
a) Effective diameter,
b) Velocity ratio,
c) Belt velocity,
d) Belt length,
e) Angle of contact,
f) Tensions in the belt,
g) Torque transmitted by the belt,
h) Power transmitted by the belt
i) Force on bearings to all types of belt drives.
Module 7: Hydraulic systems
Aim
7.1 Apply elementary calculations on hydraulic systems, specifically of flow of water
through pipes and Venturi meters.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
1. Basic principles of fluid statistics. Explain the following concepts and terms:
a) Properties of water,
b) Density,
c) Relative density,
d) Fluid pressure on a surface,
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Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
e) Pressure intensity,
f) Pressure head,
g) Atmospheric pressure.
2. Basic principles of fluid dynamics
Explain the following: Flow rate (Q), Mass flow,
3. Energy stored in fluids Continuity of flow.
Explain the following concepts: Potential energy,
4. Bernoulli’s principle Kinetic energy, Pressure energy.
Describe Bernoulli’s Theorem
Calculate the Potential, Kinetic and Pressure
energy.
List the three variations of Bernoulli’s theorem
5. Frictional losses in pipelines
Describe frictional losses in pipelines
Darcy’s equation for
frictional losses Apply Darcy’s formula to calculate the flow of fluids
in pipes.
Chezy’s equation for Apply Chezy’s formula to calculate the flow of fluids
frictional losses in an open channel
6. Measurement of flow
Explain and calculate following processes:
a) Nozzles and orifices,
b) Theoretical velocity,
c) Theoretical area,
d) Theoretical quantity,
e) Actual velocity,
f) Actual area,
g) Actual quantity,
h) Coefficient of velocity,
i) Coefficient of contraction,
j) Coefficient of discharge,
k) General formula,
l) Distance travelled by a waterjet,
m) Energy loss at orifice.
7. Venturi meters
Explain how a venturi meter is used to measure the
flowrate of fluids through pipelines.
Calculate energy loss on venturi meter.
Draw and label a venturi meter.
Module 8: Bearings
Aim
8.1 To compute bearing loads on the forces which act on the shaft being supported by the
bearing.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT The student must be able to:
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Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
1. Load acting on shafts Explain different types of loads which act on a shaft
including dead load of the rotator, load produced when
the machine performs work, and load produced by
transmission of dynamic force.
Calculate loads acting on a parallel shaft gears and
cross –shaft gears.
2. Bearing load distribution Calculate applied bearing loads
3. Mean load Explain the concept of mean load
Draw graphs to depict Fluctuating stepped load,
continuously fluctuating load, Linear fluctuating load,
Sinusoidal fluctuating load.
4. Equivalent load Discuss the following types of equivalent load:
a) Dynamic equivalent radial load,
b) Dynamic equivalent axial load,
c) Static equivalent axial load.
Compare the following types of static equivalent axial
load:
a) Static equivalent axial load,
b) Static equivalent radial load.
Calculate the load for angular contact ball bearing and
tapered ball bearings.
Calculate bearing rating life and load
MODULE 9: Metal cutting machines
General aims
9.1 Do calculations regarding forces acting on machine cutting tools.
9.2 Calculate power, speed, torque, forces and efficiency of cutting machines.
LEARNING OUTCOMES
LEARNING CONTENT
The student must be able to:
1. Introduction to metal cutting List the different types of cutting machines and identify
machines their uses.
2. Calculations for cutting Calculate power, moment of force, circumferential
speed, and torque, and efficiency, coefficiency of
machines.
friction, cutting pressure and cutting area.
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Syllabus: Mechanotechnics N4
Didactic guidelines
1. Theoretical principles should be applied to practical real-life situations.
2. Discussion and evaluations should be done on the basis of real practical workshop
situations.
3. Although the art of effective listening could be formally introduced and refined in oral
work, it should be practised continually and become part of the student’s way of life.
4. Excursions, videos and internet could all contribute to an understanding and evaluation
of the Mechanotechnics.
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