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TECHNICAL ACUMEN

MECHANICS

This introductory workshop to students, presented by a specialist in the motor industry, introduces a number of key concepts that will enable the students to complete the challenging task of reconstructing a run-down land cruiser. This module will cover the following aspects of vehicle mechanics:

* The engine 
* Ignition system 
* Fuel injection system 
* Cooling system 
* Clutch 
* The gear box 
* The prop shaft, axles, suspensions and differential 
* Braking system 
* Steering 
* Auto-electric 
* Body work 
* Miscellaneous components

WELDING

An introductory course into the key concepts of welding, in which students will gain basic and advanced methods and practices of the welding industry. The course will be provided by the Welding Skills Centre.

Course content includes:

* Oxy-acetylene gas welding & bracing and manual metal arc welding 
* MIG/MAG welding 
* TIG/TAG welding aluminium, mild and stainless steel 
* Safety precautions & management 
* Materials (identification of types of metals, preparation for welding, melting temperature & parent metal properties) 
* Tools & equipment 
* Basic technology & welding symbols 
* Joint design (butt, fillet, corner, single V, double V, single bevel butt, horizontal & vertical joints) 
* Basic weld inspection (identifying weld faults, cracks, undercutting, porosity, electrode contamination, unequal lengths) 
* The course finishes with a welding practical which includes striking an arc, starting and stopping a weld run, tack welding, deposition, straight runs, reinforcing, corner positioning, fillet weld, vertical welding.

CONSTRUCTION

The aim of the section of the course is to enable the students to gain a basic understanding of the construction industry. Its aim is not to give the students the knowledge of how to build a house, but some of the concepts and techniques that the students will gain should allow them to tackle many D-I-Y tasks, and apply them to your own home. It gives the students an insight into the construction industry, which may be the path which they chose to take in the future.

The content of the module includes:

* Planning a job 
* Constructing a block work wall 
* Plastering (see masonary work) 
* Foundations & casting a solid floor (types of foundation, dealing with sloping ground) 
* Providing temporary support (fitting a lintel or frame) 
* Making a through room 
* Creating a new doorway 
* Enlarging a window 
* Projects (Build a structure, ensure sustainability of energy usage eg solar power; Building or renovating housing for the needy)

PLUMBING

Understand the key concepts of plumbing, through working with copper and plastic piping, installing basin, shower and WC units, and planning pipe runs and waste runs. 
The key objective of this aspect of the course is to give the students the basic knowledge of plumbing, through hands-on experience. Once a sufficient level of understanding has been achieved, students will then apply what they have learned to real-life situations, such as community support work and the construction of new lodges on the Quiet Waters campus. 

ELECTRICS

The electrics course ranges from understanding the fuseboard, changing plugs and fuses, fitting wall and ceiling lights, fitting wall sockets, to the ability to fix a broken generator and understanding the concepts and benefits of solar systems. Once again, this knowledge will be applied to real-life scenarios once a sufficient level of understanding has been achieved.

Courses with a technical focus include mechanics, welding, construction, plumbing, and electrics. Course modules are focused on providing students with practical skills that are immediately tested and applied in real-life scenarios.

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