The mechanical workshop was built when the ATC was first developed and designed 6 years ago for SP-1 and continually SP2, SP3, SP4 and possibly SP5.

Purpose of the mechanical workshop is to do mainly mechanical work. It has quite a lot of machinery.

Parallet Lathe

Lathe can be used to manufacture small parts or make parts by rotating and cutting.

Grinder

Grinder is used for sharpening the tools or grinding the edges from material.

Milling machine

Milling machine moves the workpiece radially against the rotating milling cutter, which cuts on its sides as well as its tip.

Shaping machine

Shaping machine can cut curves, angles and many other shapes. It is a popular machine in a workshop because its movement is very simple although it can produce a variety of work.  

Mechanical band saw

Mechanical band saw is used for cutting metal. Bandsaw cuts metal by rotating.

Pipe cutter

Pipe cutter is used to cut pipes into pieces. Though using this machine is quite dangerous, therefore it is not used frequently. 

Jib hydraulic trolley crane

Hydraulic lifting jack is used to lift and move small parts around the workshop.

Column drilling machine

Drilling machine is used for drilling holes in metal parts.

Pipe threading machine

Pipe threading machine is used to connect pipes together by putting a thread on the ends of the pipe sections.

There are several pieces of new equipment. Pump cavitation demonstrator can monitor the flow and speed and check the pressure and see basically complete performance of the pump. It can create cavitation and we actually see the bubbles going through the machine.

Coupling/Shaft alignment trainer can align two shafts and move them around.

Most of the work is done on benches, for example stripping down machines to do inspection, take most of the parts and remove the coupling and then put them all back.

Toolboxes are placed on the wall with all the tools inside: hand tools, chisels, pliers and etc.

One part of the workshop is used as a classroom, where presentations and preliminary teaching is conducted. It is the first part of the course.  Engineering drawings are carried out using boards. After that trainees study materials and measurements course where they can use the micrometres and other measurement equipment. Then they move on to benches, where they make different components, exercise in welding and using different materials. This will provide trainees knowledge and experience with fitting, measuring all parts of pumps, making drawings, doing the complete inspection of the pumps as well as valves. There are all series of valves: gate valve, glove valve, check valve, ball valve, and relief valve. So trainees basically use the skills that they have learnt before. Similar approach is used all the way through the program.

This article is based on the interview with mechanical instructor Tom Christie