TECHNICAL

ACUMEN

Courses with a technical focus include mechanics, welding, construction, architecture & design, plumbing, and electrics.

Course modules are focused on providing students with practical skills that are immediately tested and applied in real-life scenarios.

*Safety in the workshop environment* 

Mechanics

The content of the module includes:

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• Overview of a vehicle and things to know about it

• Glossary of terms

• Engine and engine cycle (Including practical stripping & reassembly of old engine).

• Ignition systems: spark plugs, injection

• Battery & charging systems

• Cooling systems

• Transmission (Including the stripping & reassembly of a simple gearbox; diff overview with stripped & complete diff)

• Suspension

• Fuel system

• Brakes

• Steering (Including stripped steering box overview)

• Tyres - damage & wear.  Changing a wheel

• Routine checks

• Fault finding

• Complete vehicle check & basic repairs

• Servicing (If available)

• Mechanical Project (If available)

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Welding

The content of the module includes:

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• Oxy-acetylene gas welding & bracing and manual metal arc welding

• MIG/MAG welding

• TIG/TAG welding aluminium, mild and stainless steel

• Safety precautions & management

• Basic weld inspection (identification of types of metals, prepartion 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)

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Construction

The content of the module includes:

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• Gain a basic understanding of the construction industry

• Planning a job

• Gauging, concrete, cement mortar

• Constructing a block wall

• Plastering 

• Setting out basics

• Foundations & casting a solid floor (types of foundation, dealing with sloping ground)

• Providing temporary support (fitting a lintel or frame)

• Fitting door or window

• Optional projects (building structure eg solar shower or renovating houseing for the needy)

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Architecture and Design

The content of the module includes:

• Planning and design stages of construction

• Objectives

• Building materials

• Sketches of buildings (Isometric - crating, Conventions)

• Orthographic sketching (Floor plans, Elevations)

• Foundations   

• Walls & wall openings (Windows, Doors)

• Roofs, classifications

• Estimation of quantities

• Drawing  to scale - dimensions

• Symbols

• Production of basic complete plan

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Plumbing

The content of the module includes:

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• What is plumbing?

• Tools, safety & waterborne diseases.

• Plumbing principles, their functions & application.

• Trap seals.

• Types of pipes.

• Common Faults.

• Drainage & damaged pipes.

• Basic water supply systems.

• Drainage systems.

• Faucets/taps.

• Valves.

• Sinks.

• Showers & baths.

• Toilets/Water closets.

• Simple sewage systems.

• Practical installation and removal of simple plumbing systems on a sample wall (Including drainage).

• Source supply to a header tank.

• Shower system with both hot & cold supply.

• Sink System.

• Toilet System

• Practical projects (If available)

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Electrics

The content of the module includes:

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• An introduction to the basics:

• What is electricity?

• Producing electricity.

• Electrical terminology.

• Characteristics of electricity (voltage, amperage, resistance & wattage).

• Why electricity is dangerous and electrical safety.

• Earthing.

• Producing electricity using a battery.

• Producing electricity using electromagnetic induction.

• Direct current (DC) vs Alternating current (AC).

• Solar energy production and system overview.

• Electrical supply & distribution (Main supply to household supply).

• How a transformer works.

• Electrical circuits.

• Electrical control and safety devices (Switches & fuses).

• Types of circuits (Series vs Parallel & Radial vs Ring).

• Wiring diagrams & symbols.

• Electrical testing & fault finding.

• Electrical maintenance.

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        Practical Wiring & Circuits (Including wiring diagrams):    

• A simple circuit with one light and a switch.

• A simple circuit with one plug.

• A series circuit with two lights and a switch controlling both.

• A parallel circuit with two lights and a separate switch for each light.

• A radial plug circuit in parallel with two plugs.

• A ring circuit with two plugs.

• A combination circuit with two lights in parallel and one light in series. Each light must have its own switch and must not affect each other.

• A 2-way switch circuit for one light.

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