ETCAL Level 3 Diploma in Engineering

What you'll be able to do

• Perform calculations involving indices.
• Perform calculations involving logarithms.
• Perform calculations involving algebra.
• Perform calculations using trigonometry.
• Perform calculations using calculus.
• Perform calculations involving statistics.
• Determine stress of materials.
• Determine strain of materials.
• Determine elasticity of materials.
• Solve problems involving kinematics.
• Solve problems involving dynamics.
• Solve problems involving bending beams.
• Solve problems involving fluids.
• Demonstrate the effects of electromagnetism.
• Demonstrate the effects of alternating current.

What you'll be able to do

• Produce CNC part-programs using appropriate software and programming techniques
• Set-up CNC machine tools, including loading programs, setting tools, and verifying machine parameters
• Produce parts using CNC machine tools, monitoring the machining process and making adjustments as necessary
• Reinstate the work area, including cleaning the machine, removing swarf, and returning tools to their designated locations

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the architecture of computer automated systems.
• Understand the uses of computer automated systems.
• Understand the architecture of robotic systems.
• Understand the uses of robotic systems.
• Understand the operation of various types of control systems.
• Apply open loop control systems.
• Apply closed loop control systems.
• Use transducers in control systems.
• Use transducers in robotic systems.
• Use robotic drive systems.
• Apply effective robot tooling design.
• Apply basic robotic control tasks.
• Apply basic robotic programming tasks.
• Perform PLC applications in integrated control environments.
• Use analysis techniques for various modes of control for automation systems.
• Integrate computer based operator interfaces.

What you'll be able to do

• Determine tooling and equipment requirements based on the specific detailed fitting operations to be performed
• Prepare the work area and materials to perform detailed fitting operations, ensuring a safe and efficient working environment
• Perform detailed fitting operations accurately and efficiently, adhering to relevant standards and specifications
• Reinstate the work area after completing detailed fitting operations, leaving it clean and organised

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the fundamental principles of power electronics and associated circuits
• Demonstrate the ability to process control signals using appropriate transducers
• Apply knowledge of motor drive systems in practical applications
• Program industrial automation systems to perform specified tasks

What you'll be able to do

• Understand and demonstrate compliance with statutory health and safety regulations and organisational requirements within an engineering context.
• Understand and demonstrate compliance with statutory environmental regulations and organisational requirements within an engineering context.
• Implement accident and emergency procedures effectively in an engineering environment.
• Understand and apply safe working practices and procedures to minimise risks in engineering activities.

What you'll be able to do

• Interpret engineering information from drawings, specifications, and technical documents, extracting relevant data for engineering tasks
• Differentiate between common engineering materials based on their properties, applications, and manufacturing processes, selecting appropriate materials for specific engineering projects
• Perform engineering calculations related to stress, strain, force, and other relevant parameters, applying mathematical principles to solve engineering problems
• Understand the principles of quality control in engineering, including inspection methods, testing procedures, and documentation requirements to ensure product quality and reliability

What you'll be able to do

• Apply safe working practices and adhere to health and safety regulations during steelwork fabrication and erection activities
• Understand the processes involved in preparing structural materials for steelwork fabrication, including cleaning, cutting, and edge preparation
• Perform accurate marking out and cutting operations on structural materials according to specifications and drawings
• Produce fabricated steelwork structures to the required dimensions and tolerances, using appropriate joining techniques

What you'll be able to do

• Apply safe working practices and adhere to health and safety regulations when performing flux-cored arc welding operations
• Prepare equipment, including welding machines, gas supplies, and consumables, for performing flux-cored arc welding
• Perform flux-cored arc welding operations in accordance with welding procedure specification (WPS) requirements
• Evaluate welded joints for conformance to welding procedure specification (WPS) requirements, identifying and addressing any defects

What you'll be able to do

• Apply safe working practices to MIG welding activities, adhering to relevant health and safety regulations and organisational procedures
• Prepare equipment for performing MIG welding of aluminium and aluminium alloys, ensuring correct setup and calibration according to manufacturer's instructions and welding procedure specifications
• Perform MIG welding operations on aluminium and aluminium alloys to meet welding procedure specification requirements, demonstrating proficiency in various welding techniques and parameters
• Evaluate welded joints for welding procedure specification conformance, identifying and rectifying any defects or deviations from specified quality standards

What you'll be able to do

• Apply safe working practices to MIG welding activities.
• Prepare equipment for performing MIG welding, ensuring it is correctly set up and ready for use.
• Perform MIG welding operations to meet the requirements of the welding procedure specification.
• Evaluate welded joints to determine conformance with the welding procedure specification.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to perform manufacturing operations safely on grinding machines, adhering to health and safety regulations.
• Perform manufacturing operations to produce precision finishes using surface grinding techniques.
• Perform manufacturing operations to produce precision finishes using cylindrical grinding techniques.
• Perform tool and cutter grinding operations to maintain and sharpen cutting tools.

What you'll be able to do

• Prepare for milling operation, selecting appropriate tools and setting up the machine.
• Machine components using a universal dividing head, achieving specified dimensions and tolerances.
• Machine components by reaming and boring, achieving specified dimensions and tolerances.
• Reinstate the work area, ensuring cleanliness and proper storage of tools and materials.

What you'll be able to do

• Carry out alignment tests on machining equipment and machine materials to required dimensions, ensuring accuracy and precision.
• Produce self-holding and quick release tapers using appropriate machining techniques.
• Produce single and two start threads using appropriate machining techniques.
• Differentiate between various cutting methods used in machining operations, understanding their applications and limitations.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the components and features of electrical systems used in engineering contexts.
• Plan and prepare for the maintenance operation of electrical equipment and systems.
• Carry out monitoring and inspection of maintenance work on electrical systems, identifying potential issues.
• Re-commission the system and restore the work area after electrical maintenance activities.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the function of hydraulic systems in engineering applications.
• Prepare for the maintenance of hydraulic systems, ensuring safety and efficiency.
• Perform inspections and maintenance tasks on hydraulic systems according to industry standards.
• Reinstate hydraulic systems to operational status following maintenance procedures.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the function of various machine systems and their components.
• Prepare for the maintenance of machine systems, including gathering necessary tools, equipment, and information.
• Perform inspections and maintenance tasks on machine systems according to established procedures.
• Reinstate machine systems to operational status following maintenance activities, ensuring correct functionality.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the function of various plant services within an engineering facility.
• Prepare effectively for the maintenance of plant services, including risk assessments and resource allocation.
• Perform inspections and maintenance tasks on plant services according to established procedures and safety guidelines.
• Reinstate plant services to operational status following maintenance activities, ensuring proper functionality and safety.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the function and operation of various components within pneumatic systems
• Prepare for the maintenance of pneumatic systems, including isolating the system and selecting appropriate tools and equipment
• Perform inspections and maintenance tasks on pneumatic systems, identifying and rectifying faults
• Reinstate pneumatic systems to their operational state, ensuring correct functionality and safety

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the function and operation of various utility systems, such as water, gas, and electricity
• Prepare for the maintenance of utility systems, including isolating the system and selecting appropriate tools and equipment
• Perform inspections and maintenance tasks on utility systems, identifying and rectifying faults
• Reinstate utility systems to their operational state, ensuring correct functionality and safety

What you'll be able to do

• Apply safe working practices to manual metal arc welding activities.
• Prepare equipment for performing manual metal arc welding, ensuring it is correctly set up and ready for use.
• Perform manual metal arc welding operations to meet the requirements of the welding procedure specification.
• Evaluate welded joints to determine conformance with the welding procedure specification.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the principles of the ‘Total Engineering Approach’ to production systems, recognising the interdisciplinary nature of mechatronics and its application in automated manufacturing
• Apply the principles of typical sensors, including their function, operation, and application in mechatronic systems for data acquisition and feedback control
• Apply the principles of pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical and electrical actuation systems, understanding their characteristics and application in mechatronic systems for motion control and power transmission
• Apply the principles of embedded control, including microcontrollers, programmable logic controllers (PLCs), and software programming for controlling mechatronic systems
• Carry out fault finding on pneumatic, hydraulic, mechanical and electrical actuation systems, using diagnostic tools and techniques to identify and rectify malfunctions in mechatronic systems

What you'll be able to do

• Organise engineering activities effectively, taking into account available resources and project requirements.
• Schedule engineering activities to ensure efficient workflow and timely completion of projects.
• Analyse the costs associated with engineering installation, production, and maintenance to identify areas for cost optimisation.
• Apply appropriate research methods to assist in the installation, production, or maintenance process, improving efficiency and problem-solving.

What you'll be able to do

• Determine lines of intersection on engineering drawings and components.
• Develop patterns using parallel line techniques for fabrication purposes.
• Develop patterns using radial line techniques for fabrication purposes.
• Develop patterns using triangulation methods for complex shapes.
• Produce templates of developed patterns accurately for manufacturing.

What you'll be able to do

• Apply safe working practices to platework fabrication, adhering to relevant health and safety regulations and organisational procedures
• Prepare equipment for platework cutting, ensuring correct setup and calibration according to manufacturer's instructions and job specifications
• Prepare the equipment for platework forming, selecting appropriate tooling and techniques for bending, rolling, and shaping plate materials
• Produce fabrications using platework techniques, demonstrating proficiency in cutting, forming, welding, and assembling plate materials to create desired structures

What you'll be able to do

• Identify the components and features of utilities, including their functions and interrelationships.
• Plan and prepare for the maintenance or installation operation, taking into account safety procedures and resource requirements.
• Carry out inspections and general maintenance tasks on power generation systems and ancillary equipment.
• Commission or re-commission the system, following established procedures and ensuring safe operation.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the operation of power supply circuits to component level, including the function of individual components.
• Understand the operation of analogue circuits to component level, including the function of individual components.
• Understand the principles of digital electronics and data transmission systems.
• Find faults on digital circuits and data transmission systems using appropriate diagnostic techniques.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to plan maintenance activities, taking into account resource availability and safety requirements
• Understand how to plan installation activities, considering site conditions and equipment specifications
• Understand how to plan commissioning activities, ensuring adherence to quality standards and operational parameters
• Install instruments and components according to manufacturer's instructions and industry best practices
• Commission instruments and components, verifying their functionality and performance
• Understand methods to evaluate and minimise the effects of friction in engineering systems
• Understand methods to evaluate and prevent corrosion in engineering applications
• Evaluate different connection methods, considering their suitability for specific applications and materials

What you'll be able to do

• Classify common materials used in fabrication engineering, based on their properties and applications
• Determine the bending and rolling allowances for fabricated forms, taking into account material thickness and bending radius
• Understand the principles of shearing in fabrication processes, including the effects of material properties and tool geometry
• Understand the difference between different non-thermal joining methods, such as riveting, bolting, and adhesive bonding
• Understand different methods used for finishing fabricated components, including painting, coating, and polishing

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to classify common materials used in fabrication engineering, identifying their properties and suitability for different applications
• Apply welding symbols to joint preparations, accurately interpreting and implementing welding symbols on engineering drawings
• Know different non-thermal joining methods, such as riveting, bolting, and adhesive bonding, and their appropriate applications in fabrication
• Understand the affects of distortion and residual stresses due to welding, and implement techniques to minimise their impact on fabricated structures
• Determine the integrity of welded joints using non-destructive testing methods, such as visual inspection, dye penetrant testing, and ultrasonic testing

What you'll be able to do

• Understand how to determine the alignment of machine tools using appropriate techniques and equipment.
• Differentiate between methods of power transmission in machine tools, including their advantages and disadvantages.
• Understand how to evaluate the application of CNC to machine tools, considering factors such as efficiency and cost.
• Understand the maintenance requirements of machine tool systems, including preventative and reactive maintenance.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand shipbuilding technical drawings and computer aided engineering (CAE) used in the shipbuilding industry.
• Identify ship types, design features and major components of various vessels.
• Identify the principal structural components of a ship and their functions.
• Understand the assembly and erection of ship parts during the shipbuilding process.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the fundamentals of welding processes.
• Apply welding symbols to joint preparations.
• Understand the effects of distortion due to welding.
• Understand the effects of residual stresses due to welding.
• Understand the metallurgical effects of welding.
• Determine the integrity of welded joints.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the fundamental principles that underpin the use of composite materials.
• Understand the different components that make up composite materials.
• Understand the chemistry of composite matrices.
• Understand the materials used in pre-impregnated (pre-preg) materials.
• Understand the techniques used with pre-impregnated (pre-preg) materials.
• Understand the materials used in pre-formed (pre-forms) materials.
• Understand the techniques used with pre-formed (pre-forms) materials.
• Understand the materials used in dry fibre moulding.
• Understand the techniques used in dry fibre moulding.
• Understand how to prepare adhesive materials for use in composite structures.
• Understand how to use adhesive materials for bonding composite structures.
• Understand how to prepare bonding materials for use in composite structures.
• Understand how to use bonding materials for composite structures.
• Recognise potential defects in adhesive and bonding materials used in composite structures.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the manufacturing processes used for composite components and structures, including materials and techniques.
• Understand types and sources of manufacture defects of composite components and structures, and their impact on performance.
• Know different methods of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) available for composite materials and their applications.
• Understand process and quality systems required for composite component and structure manufacture, ensuring compliance with standards.
• Plan, make and test manually fabricated composite components to given specifications, demonstrating practical skills.

What you'll be able to do

• Understand the principles of electrical supply systems, protection mechanisms, and earthing techniques.
• Understand the function of various electrical and electronic components within engineering systems.
• Carry out electronic measurements accurately using appropriate instruments and techniques.
• Understand the functions of different types of electrical machines and their applications.

What you'll be able to do

• Set-up to produce CAD drawings, configuring the software and hardware appropriately.
• Produce 2D CAD drawings, utilising appropriate commands and techniques.
• Produce 3D CAD drawings, utilising appropriate commands and techniques.
• Produce hard copies of CAD drawings, selecting appropriate printing parameters.

What you'll be able to do

• Apply safe working practices to sheet metalwork fabrication.
• Prepare equipment for sheetmetal cutting.
• Use equipment for sheetmetal cutting.
• Prepare tools for sheetmetal cutting.
• Use tools for sheetmetal cutting.
• Prepare the equipment for sheetmetal forming.
• Use the equipment for sheetmetal forming.
• Prepare the tools for sheetmetal forming.
• Use the tools for sheetmetal forming.
• Produce fabrications using sheet metalwork techniques.

What you'll be able to do

• Apply safe working practices to TIG welding operations, adhering to health and safety regulations and guidelines
• Prepare equipment for performing TIG welding of aluminium and aluminium alloys, ensuring it is properly set up and calibrated
• Perform TIG welding operations on aluminium and aluminium alloys to meet welding procedure specification requirements, demonstrating proficiency in welding techniques
• Evaluate welded joints for welding procedure specification conformance, identifying any defects or deviations from the required standards

What you'll be able to do

• Apply safe working practices to TIG welding operations, adhering to health and safety regulations and guidelines
• Prepare equipment for performing TIG welding, ensuring it is properly set up and calibrated for the specific material being welded
• Perform TIG welding operations to meet welding procedure specification requirements, demonstrating proficiency in welding techniques
• Evaluate welded joints for welding procedure specification conformance, identifying any defects or deviations from the required standards