Vak: Materials and Mounting Techniques credits: 5

In this module various materials, production techniques and selection criteria are covered. In addition, some mounting techniques commonly used in construction are treated. 

Professional Products 

• Mechatronic requirements for a (final) product – The defined functional, technical, and performance criteria that a system must meet, covering the integration of mechanical, electrical, electronic, and software components to ensure the product operates reliably, efficiently, and as intended. This includes, for example mechanical, electrical, electronic, control, software, system integration, safety and compliance aspects. In this module: Material and production technique aspects 
• Mechatronic specifications of a (partial) product – Detailed descriptions of the properties, functionalities, dimensions, performance, materials, behaviour, components and interfaces of a system that integrates mechanical, electrical, and software elements. They indicate exactly how the product must be designed, built and function in order to meet the stated requirements. In this module: Material properties. 

Skills 

• Material selection – The  process of choosing the most appropriate materials for a specific application based on factors such as strength, durability, weight, cost, and environmental conditions. It involves evaluating material properties like hardness, conductivity, and corrosion resistance to ensure optimal performance and functionality of the product or system. 
• Design for maintenance/repair/recycling/circularity – The process of developing products with the goal of making them easy to maintain, repair, reuse, or recycle. 
• Design with tolerances – The process of specifying allowable variations in dimensions, shapes, or positions of parts in a design, ensuring that they function correctly and can be produced despite small deviations during manufacturing. 
• Mechanical fabrication – The  process of constructing and shaping mechanical components or structures through processes such as cutting, welding, machining, bending, and assembling materials. 

Knowledge 

• Material science – The study of the properties, structure, processing, and performance of materials—such as metals, polymers, ceramics, and composites—to understand and improve their behaviour in various applications. In this module: conductors, isolators, strength, density, thermoplastic, wear and tribology, mechanical properties and failure theories 
• Production techniques – The methods and processes used to manufacture products, including materials processing, assembly, and machining. These including topics like welding, turning, milling, drilling, bending, surface treatment and rapid prototyping. 
• Mounting techniques – The methods used to securely attach or assemble components or systems onto a structure or platform. These techniques include processes like bolting, welding, screwing, or using adhesive materials to ensure stability, alignment, and proper function of the mounted parts in mechanical or electrical applications. 
• Thermodynamics – The branch of physics that deals with the study of heat, energy, and work, and how they interact in physical systems. It focuses on the laws governing energy transfer, transformation, and the behaviour of matter, aiming to understand processes like heat flow, efficiency, and the conservation of energy.