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False Bay College Engineering

National Certificate N4-N6:
Fabrication

National Certificate
N4-N6:
Fabrication

OFFERED AT THESE CAMPUSES

Westlake Campus
Full-Time (not available via Distance Learning yet)
About this programme

ABOUT THIS PROGRAMME

The N4 to N6 Mechanical Engineering programme is a post-matric National Certificate programme.

Students who complete the National Certificate N4, can continue to complete N5 and N6.

After N6:  18 months practical experience can be completed in a relevant workplace to qualify for the National Diploma:  Mechanical Engineering.

The N4 to N6 Certificates in Mechanical Engineering are offered at Westlake Campus Full-Time.

Minimum Admission requirements

Minimum Admission requirements

  • N3 in a mechanical trade
  • Technical Matric with Mathematics, Science and Engineering Graphics and Design at 40% or more
  • Matric/National Senior Certificate (NSC) with Mathematics and Physical Science at 40% or more
  • NCV Level 4 in a mechanical trade
Career Opportunities

CAREER opportunities

It is recommended that students enrolling for the National Certificate programme complete the N5 and N6, as well as 2 years workplace experiential training in order to qualify for the National N-Diploma.
On completion of N6, students can apply:

  • To a University of Technology to complete a higher qualification
  • To a workplace that requires the obtained qualification
  • For an Apprenticeship
  • To work as a:
    • Technician
    • Technologist
    • Assistant to Qualified Engineers
    • Self-employed Entrepreneur
Duration

Duration

The programme runs for a trimester 3-month period/10 weeks per certificate

Note:  N4, N5 and N6 are currently offered Full-Time only

Course Content

Course content

N4 Certificate

  • MECHANOTECHNICS N4

    This subject covers content in the following learning areas:

    • Workshop Layout
    • Metal Protection 
    • Lubrication
    • Precision measuring of machine parts
    • Gear drives
    • Belt drives
    • Hydraulic Systems
    • Bearings
    • Metal Cutting Machines

    MECHANICAL DRAUGHTING N4

    The syllabus covers the following modules:

    • Conventional representation of a single spur gear, spur gears in mesh, square threads and helical springs
    • CAM Profiles
    • Sectional Drawing
    • Detail Drawing
    • Assembly Drawing

    ENGINEERING SCIENCE N4

    Engineering Science can be defined as the application of Mathematics, Science, Economics and practical knowledge to invent, innovate, design, maintain and research structures and machines.

    The syllabus make provision to cover all these aspects:

    Students will be equipped with the following subject knowledge:

    • Kinematics
    • Angular Motion
    • Dynamics
    • Statics
    • Hydraulics
    • Stress
    • Strain and Young’s modulus
    • Heat

    MATHEMATICS N4

    Mathematical Skills are expanded to the following learning areas:

    • Determinants
    • Complex Numbers
    • Trigonometry
    • Functions and Graphs
    • Differentiation
    • Integration

N5 Certificate

  • MECHANOTECHNICS N5

    This subject covers content in the following learning areas:

    • Epicyclic gear and gear trains
    • Reduction gearboxes
    • Conveyor belts and belt drives
    • Bucket elevators and bucket conveyors
    • Rope haulages and aerial ropeways
    • Elevators
    • Rail and road traction
    • Flywheels

    MATHEMATICS N5

    Mathematical Skills are expanded to the following learning areas:

    • Limits and continuity
    • Differentiation
    • Application of differentiation
    • Integration Techniques
    • Application of the Definite Integral
    • Differential equations

    STRENGHTS OF MATERIALS N5

    On completion of the modules in this subject, students should have acquired in-depth knowledge of the following content:

    • Stress, strain and tensile testing of materials
    • Strain Energy
    • Compound bars and Temperature-induced stresses
    • Thin Cylinders and Mohr’s circle
    • Simple bending of beams
    • Columns and Struts
    • Twisting of Circular Shafts
    • Structural frameworks

    POWER MACHINES N5

    The content of this subject comprises of the following learning outcomes:

    • Thermodynamics of Gases
    • Heating of Gases
    • Entropy
    • Steam Generation
    • Enthalpy and the Formation of Steam; Volume of Steam
    • Throttling of Steam
    • Boiler Efficiency
    • Steam Condensers
    • Condensing Water required
    • Air Pumps
    • Combustion of fuels by volume
    • Calculation of air fuel by mass
    • The Calorific Value by Chemical Analysis
    • Compressors
    • Gas Turbines

N6 Certificate

  • MECHANOTECHNICS N6

    This subject covers content in the following learning areas:

    • Clutches
    • Brakes
    • Line Shafts
    • Flywheels
    • Reduction Gearboxes
    • Rail Traction and Vehicle Dynamics
    • Balancing
    • Kinematics

    MATHEMATICS N6

    Mathematical Skills are expanded to the following learning areas:

    • Differentiation
    • Integration Techniques
    • Partial Fractions
    • Differential Equations
    • Application of the definite integral
    • Applications where differentiation and integration techniques are combined

    STRENGHTS OF MATERIALS N6

    On completion of the modules in this subject, students should have acquired in-depth knowledge of the following content:

    • Thick Cylinders
    • Tension in Cables
    • Combined bending and twisting of shafts
    • Bending and deflection of beams
    • Combined direct and bending stress
    • Shear stress in beams
    • Closed-coiled helical springs
    • Transformation of stress
    • Forces in structural frameworks

    POWER MACHINES N6

    The content of this subject comprises of the following learning outcomes:

    • Thermodynamics
    • Basic Gas Laws
    • Steam Generation
    • Nozzles
    • Steam and Gas Turbines
    • Internal Combustion Engines
    • Air Compressors

WHAT DO THESE SUBJECTS ENTAIL?

Mathematics

Students are equipped with mathematical skills in the following learning areas: Basic operations, equations, word problems and manipulation, exponents and logarithms, factorisation, algebraic graphs, trigonometry, mensuration and percentages. Students will be able to apply the acquired knowledge to problems in a real-life context and solve problems related to their trades.

Engineering Science

Engineering Science can be defined as the application of mathematics, science, economics and practical knowledge to invent, innovate, design, maintain and research structures and machines. The syllabus makes provisions to cover all these aspects. Students will be equipped with the following subject knowledge: Dynamics; Statics; Energy, Work and Power; Heat; Particle Structure of Matter; Electricity.

Structural Steel Drawing

Technical drawings of basic models that fall within the ambit of Fabrication (boilermaking) and related trades.

Platers Theory

This course is the minimum theoretical exit level requirement for students who are pursuing the trade qualification of Artisan Plater, Boilermaker or Pipe Fitter. The student must be taught and found competent in the following topics: Safety and Machines, Rolling and Bending, General Pipe Work, Steel Structures, Templates, Metals, Gas Welding and Cutting, Arc Welding, and Calculations.

Engineering Studies