This is an introduction to pneumatics, assuming no previous knowledge, with exercises and interactive animated graphics.
Course requirements are any I.B.M. or IBM-compatible personal computer, a 3.5 inch HD disk drive, and an EGA or VGA or SVGA monitor. The course runs in EGA.
Any screen in the course may be printed out at any time as a graphic print-out. The print-out driver is suitable for Epson 9 pin, 24 pin, IBM Proprinter, Canon Bubble-Jet and Hewlett-Packard (PCL3) laser printers.
Deals with the compressibility of air, compressors, storing and controlling the air, industrial air-line systems, air servicing and legal safety requirements of systems.
Formulas and exercises in metric or inch units. Percentage marks are always given on screen and if required there is a print-out for later inspection by the lecturer.
Covers the full range with descriptions of all the ISO circuit symbols used on the course, some animated to aid understanding.
Examples and exercises in circuits with animated graphics, both mark and graphic print-outs if necessary.
Animated single stage and double stage pneumatic compressors with valve sequences. Rotary vane type with animated valve sequences. Here is an expandable picture from this section ...
- Click here to expand.
A further step including diameter calculations and print-outs of the marks received.
Speed and position control with animated circuits. Piston cushioning, reasons and effects. Blow-up of animated cushion sequence.
We see a set of doors with various control systems fitted. This is followed by industrial production set-ups using a robot arm and conveyors then gravity feed and pneumatic rams to feed the machining set-up.
Here is where the hard work starts again with more complex circuit examples and exercises. There are percentage marks and print-outs together with screen prints of the circuits if required.
Covers most of the common points concerning safety for both the equipment and more importantly the user. Places some stress on the dangers inherent in working on compressed air units due to the stored energy of the air.
The following features are available in most sections:-
The courses are made up of ten sections any one of which is available from a Drop Down menu. This is accessible at any time so you can interrupt any section to look at the menu and if necessary you may cancel the menu and carry on with the section. You may move forward or back from the menu although initially we recommend you to start at the beginning and work your way through, as the sections are progressive.
We have included a feature which we call 'Logical Paging' as it allows the student to jump forward or back through the sections themselves a 'logical page' at a time.
As the courses are in EGA mode and use is made of colour shades, we have added a very small on-screen contrast check.
The exercises are based on randomly-generated numbers. We have also added a Progress Monitoring system. This provides for a continuous print-out of the exercise results and section totals together with a percentage mark at the end of the section. The student's answers are printed together with the computed answer so the lecturer can assess readily how any student is coping with the course.
The courses is well-supported by Animated Graphics and is in EGA mode.
No specific entry level is required other than a basic general engineering background. The course is aimed at newcomers to the trade and experienced tradesmen wishing to gain knowledge of pneumatics, a rapidly expanding technology.