The US is undergoing the biggest turnover of its workforce in its history. Many of the newer American industrial maintenance workers are stepping into their positions with limited formal training or experience with hydraulic fluid power (industrial hydraulics). Attempting to read and interpret schematics, troubleshoot and maintain hydraulic‐powered machines without any training can be a daunting task. This 5‐day training course is the first step in the development of maintenance and technical personnel that need to understand their hydraulic powered and controlled equipment.

This first step hydraulic training course concentrates on developing students’ understanding of industrial hydraulic fundamentals. These fundamentals include: characteristics of fluid pressure, fluid flow, fluid power, cylinder and hydraulic motor speed control and system heat production. Students will understand the purpose, function, operation and hydraulic schematic symbols for all major hydraulic valves and pumps. This training includes ample hands‐on lab exercises to reinforce the classroom lecture. We want our students to come prepared to be challenged in the classroom and the lab.

one week course (32 hours)

This final 5-day course completes the Industrial Fluid Power (IFP) Program. This course focuses on hydraulic valve and control circuits. This course offers more detailed learning and hands on training through self-directed labs.

Students will learn system relief valve troubleshooting including setup considerations for fixed displacement pumps, how to properly set a spike pressure relief valve when used with a pressure compensated variable displacement pump and how to evaluate hot running hydraulic systems. This course focuses in more detail on hydraulic pumps in comparison to the two previous courses. This includes determining why the hydraulic pump’s electric drive motor shuts down on overload and troubleshooting worn pumps. Additionally, understanding and properly setting up a pressure compensated pump, a remote pressure compensated pump, a load sensing/meter in pressure compensated pump, and finally a horse power-controlled pump. This course emphasizes fluid cleanliness standards.

Students will be able to identify the difference between meter-in and meter out speed control and when meter-out speed control cannot be used. In depth discussions and learning are conducted on understanding stack valve systems by properly reading and interpreting a hydraulic schematic as well as properly assembling D03 stack valve systems according to a hydraulic schematic.

Students will learn how to properly check accumulator pre-charge pressure and add nitrogen to an accumulator. Students will setup a counterbalance circuit in the lab, learn the proper configuration of a hydraulic circuit when flow controls, counterbalance and load holding valves are all used to control the operation of a cylinder circuit. Students will understand the application of various directional control spool types.

Throughout this course and program completion, students will develop troubleshooting techniques and develop schematic reading and interpretation techniques.