Faculty Syllabus

Course Description:

Upon the successful completion of this course a student will have a more comprehensive understanding of automated manufacturing systems and how they are designed, assembled and maintained.  A solid understanding of the components that make up an automatic manufacturing system, and how they work, should has already been established through the prerequisite courses, DC Circuits and Automated Manufacturing.  In this course we will expand on that to include how those components are chosen and assembled into a useful automated manufacturing system, and how that system is assembled and maintained. 

The prerequisites for INMT 1417 are CETT 1403 - DC Circuits and MFGT 1404 - Automated Manufacturing. 

Attendance/Participation:  Attendance is very important in this class!  If you are present and engaged for all of the classes it is very likely that you will succeed in this class.   Please be on time.  This is not just for your own benefit, but also a courtesy to others in the class.  There are a number of in-class exercises and labs where working in groups is key to you and your classmate's success.  In these settings teamwork, cooperation, and patience are also essential.

Blackboard access: All class materials will be made available on Blackboard.   Access and regular use are essential for your success in this course.  Grades will be entered in Blackboard so you can track your progress.  Announcements and class updates will also be made through Blackboard and you will receive an email to your ACC gmail account. 

A Notebook and Binder are recommended for taking notes and keeping copies of your assignments/exams.

Missed or Late Work:

• Exams – If you know that you will miss an exam in advance, contact me ahead of time to plan for a make-up and to avoid a grading penalty. 
• Quizzes – There will be one every week that there is not an exam.  Make-ups on quizzes must be done at the next in-person opportunity.  If not completed within a week that quiz will receive a zero grade.   
• Labs and Homework - Late labs and homework must be received within a week of the due date and will receive a letter grade reduction in grading (for example a 95 (A) becomes an 85 (B)).   If you’re more than one week that assignment may receive a zero grade.

Textbook: You are not required to purchase a textbook for this course.  All class presentation material will be made available through Blackboard. 

Course Rationale:

The purpose of this course is to prepare students as technicians who plan to enter the manufacturing industry. Technicians are required to have a working knowledge of automated manufacturing systems. This course teaches those skills through a series of lectures, labs, class discussions and student activities.

Course Objectives/Outcomes:

Develop an understanding of automated manufacturing hardware and overall systems.  Develop an understanding of hardware operation to support understanding of performance criteria and troubleshooting methodology.

Labs and Lab Write ups:

During the Lab exercises, students will work in teams. Teamwork is essential to accomplish the lab and capture the required data. Once the lab is completed and the data has been captured and shared with the team then it is expected that each student is to create/write- up his or her own lab report.

Course evaluation will consist of exams, labs, homework, projects and participation:

• Exams (2x, midterm, final)             24% (12% ea.)
• Quizzes (apprx. 13 total)                30% (total)
• Labs/Homework                             30% (total)
• Class project                                   8% (total)
• Class participation / teamwork        8%
•                                         Total     100 %

Tentative Course Schedule:

• Class Begins - January 21st (Wednesday)
• Week 1             Lecture:  Course Introduction, Mechatronics Introduction
  • Lab:  SMC FAS-200 Introduction
  • Student Questionairre
• Week 2             Lecture:  Mechatronics Introduction, Safety
  • Lab:  Amatrol Mechatronics System Introduction
  • Quiz 1
• Week 3             Lecture:  Mechatronics systems construction 
  • Lab: FAS-200 Operationg Instructions, Amatrol Operating Instructions
  • Quiz 2
• Week 4             Lecture:  Mechatronics systems construction
  • Lab:  FAS -200 Assembly, Spare Parts
    • Amatrol Mechatronics System Spare Parts
  • Quiz 3
• Week 5             Lecture:  Conveyor Systems
  • Lab:  Conveyor systems operation and sequencing (SMC and Amatrol)
  • Quiz 4
• Week 6             Lecture:  Pick & Place (P&P) Systems
  • Lab:  P&P operation and sequencing (SMC and Amatrol)
  • Quiz 5
• Week 7             Lecture:  Part Feeding and Inspection
  • Lab:  Feeding/Inspection operation and sequencing (SMC and Amatrol)
  • Quiz 6
• Week 8             Lecture:  Robotics in Automation
  • Lab:  Robot integration and programming (SMC and Amatrol)
  • Exam 1
• Week 9             Lecture:  Systems Integration and Control
  • Lab:  Subsystem PLC controls and interfaces (SMC and Amatrol)
  • Quiz 7
• Week 10           Lecture:  Human-Machine Interface (HMI)
  • Lab:  HMI (SMC and Amatrol)
  • Quiz 8
• Week 11            Lecture:  Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition (SCADA)
  • Lab:  SCADA (SMC and Amatrol)
  • Quiz 9
• Week 12            Lecture:  Class project time
  • Lab:  AR with the FAS-200.  
  • Quiz 10
• Week 13            Lecture:  Class project time  
  • Lab:  Fault injection and Troubleshooting
  • Quiz 11
• Week 14            Lecture:  Class project time
  • Lab:  Fault injection and Troubleshooting
  • Quiz 12
• Week 15            Lecture:  Class project time
  • Lab:  Fault injection and Troubleshooting
  • Quiz 13
• Week 16            Lecture:  Project presentations
  • Lab:  Final Exam
  • Exam 2

Student Support Services (link)

The success of our students is paramount.  ACC offers a variety of support services to help, as well as providing numerous opportunities for community engagement and personal growth.

College Policies (link)

• All degree and certificate seeking students should declare their major at the Admissions and Records Office or with an ACC advisor if they have not done so already.

• Students in the department of Engineering Technology or Advanced Manufacturing, who are seeking a degree or certificate in any specialty area, should visit with one of our area-of-study student advisors; Vidal Almanza, (Hays Campus, Student Affairs office, (512) 262-6533; vman@austincc.edu) or Riverside, South, Caleb Engler, 512-223-6173. caleb.engler@austincc.edu; Christien Rawlins (Round Rock Campus, Student Affairs office, (512) 223-0033; calexan4@austincc.edu)
   
• Other advisors for specific areas-of-study can be found at: http://www.austincc.edu/support-and-services/services-for-students/areas-of-study-advising
   
• All Engineering Technology students must check their ACC gmail regularly throughout the semester. We will be sending pertinent information about scholarships, job opportunities, Microsoft Azure, free student software program, career fairs, special events, and etc. through the student gmail system.

Artificial Intelligence Policy for the Departments of Engineering Technology and Advanced Manufacturing

1. Introduction: The use of generative AI (GAI) is permitted in this course under certain conditions and with instructor approval for the purposes of enhancing learning while maintaining academic integrity.
2. Rationale: GAI is permitted to foster technological fluency and to leverage advanced tools for research, projects and other relevant assignments, as long as it does not substitute for the students’ original work, critical thinking and learning.
3. Definition of GAI: Generative AI encompasses technologies that create content through learned patterns and data without direct human input.
4. Usage Permissions: Permitted: GAI can be used for initial research, idea generation, and learning coding practices. It is not to be used for final submissions unless explicitly cited and discussed. Students should check with their instructors for approval before using AI in their assignments.
5. Resources: The ACC Library provides guidance on the ethical and effective use of GAI.  Additional resources may be provided by your instructor.
6. Assessment: Contributions of GAI must be clearly cited and will be assessed on the student’s ability to critically analyze and integrate the AI-generated content.
7. Penalties: Misuse of GAI, including a failure to cite, will be considered a breach of academic integrity, with consequences including a failing grade for the assignment and academic review.
8. Exceptions: Should the technology be required as an accommodation, exceptions will be made on a case-by-case basis.

For general ACC student advicing, students can find their assigned advisor by logging into MyACC austincc.edu/MyACC and doing the following:

1. Click on “My Advisors” on the right-hand side
2. View your advisor’s email address and phone number
3. Contact your advisor to schedule an appointment

Students who are pursuing Advanced Manufacturing or Engineering Technology certificates or AAS degree, should reach out to Natalia or Sonia for advising.

• Natalia S. Almanza (Email: natalia.almanza@austincc.edu )
  • Appointment Link: https://calendar.google.com/calendar/u/0/appointments/AcZssZ2dlbfDI_6X7ZECVAKoLpz5_-zhNnegL5gav1Q=
• Sonia Santamaria (Email: Sonia.Santamaria@austincc.edu )
  • Appointment link:  https://calendly.com/BATMET