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 At ExcelCalcs we are passionate about calculations and spreading knowledge. Our engineering courses can be custom built to your company's needs by selecting individual modules (see list below). All courses are developed and presented by practising engineers so courses have a practical bias rather than an academics bias. Uniquely ExcelCalcs training courses uses XLC spreadsheets which make powerful training resources and tools for use long after the course is complete. Each attendee is given a web access key to unlock unique coarse material. The courses include presentations, XLC spreadsheets, videos, tutorials, quizzes and practical workshops. They usually conclude with a short examination and a certificate of competence for attendees. Participants will continue to be supported after training via the course forum. John Doyle, the ExcelCalcs creator, will personally deliver the seminar. Please email for a quotation specifying your content preferences from:
 Content Options: Select your own course from the ExcelCalcs training modules.
●XLC and ExcelCalcs
●Bolting and mechanical fasteners
●Welding and joining materials
●Static strength and fatigue design
●Pins and lugs
●Failure criteria and biaxial stress assessment
●Material properties and material selection
●Steel and aluminium design
●Fatigue of welded structures
●Fracture mechanics
●Strain gauge or calculate?
●Failure Investigations
●Design for impact loads and dynamic effects
Take a look at two course time tables at the bottom of this page. There is much common ground but one is tailored for the design of aluminium railway vehicles and the other for the design of construction equipment. Please specify if you would like the course to be customised towards a particular industry or specific objective. If you can't see all of what you would like us to cover we will develop new training modules to meet your requirements.  Course Director: All courses are presented by ExcelCalcs founder John Doyle BSc(eng)., Ceng., MIMechE., ACGI, a graduate of Imperial college, London with some 25 years of experience in solving finite element and computer development problems. Born in 1965 he attained chartered status with the Institute of Mechanical Engineers aged 25 and was appointed Chief Mechanical Engineer at Bombardier Prorail shortly after. Excited by the opportunities offered by the PC revolution, he started MoreVision in 1995 offering engineering services to industry and using the proceeds to develop software products for engineers. His first software product won the UK Government SMART competition for innovation and was subsequently sold to Research Engineers Inc. (STAAD). His latest internet venture, ExcelCalcs.com, was launched in March 2007 and it becomes increasingly popular with a world wide engineering community. Most of John’s time is spent on engineering consultancy projects where he specialises in finite element analysis and strain gauge testing applied to welded steel structures and mechanical equipment. As a self-confessed workaholic he works from his home in Leeds UK mainly to provide a balance between work and family life. Location: Courses can be arranged at our site, your site or at a convenient hotel. Our training facillity is an Old School House in Stainburn in the heart of the idyllic Yorkshire countryside in the UK. It is a quiet and remote location, very conducive to study, yet it is only a 15 minute drive to Leeds/Bradford International Airport. Attendees can be accommodated in a local country cottage, in a hotel in the popular tourist destination of Harrogate (15mins) or, for those who like a little more action, Leeds City Centre (30mins). Cost - Typically the cost of a course is 4000 USD per day plus expenses for up to 30 participants (from 135 USD per person).
Here follows details of two 5 day courses delivered by ExcelCalcs:
Design of Aluminium Rail Vehicles
 Taiwan Railway Industry - A group of 18 engineers in Taiwan consisting engineers from government and industry had a particular interest in 'Design of Aluminium Railway Vehicles'. Aluminium designs offer up to a 30% weight saving and reduced manufacturing costs over conventional steel designs. Topics covered include metallurgy and comparison with steel, history of aluminium rail vehicles, design and manufacturing requirements and constraints, finite element analysis, weld design, fatigue design and analysis, mechanical fastening and analysis of preloaded joints, crashworthiness and structural testing. The 5 day course combines presentations, videos, tutorials, quizzes and practical workshops. All course materials are accessible by the internet. Certificates of completion are issued after satisfactory completion of the course examination. Choosing from modules below, a 5 day course was assembled to meet their specific needs. You can see the participants being awarded their certificates opposite. I had a wonderful time in Taipei thanks to generous hospitality of my clients.
Typical Training Modules
ExcelCalcs Training Module (1/2 day) - Learn how to our XLC software with MS Excel so that cell formulae can be displayed as mathematical equations. Now that cell formulae can be checked directly against mathematical expressions you'll never insert an incorrect cell formula again! A free copy of the software will be given to each participant and you'll be given a guided tour of the Repository.
Design of Welded Joints Module (1 day) - Learn how to weld steel and aluminium joints and avoid problems associated with joint strength, and joint fatigue cracking.
This course covers both steel and aluminium welding.
* Static Strength of welds
* XLC Spreadsheet - Strength Calculation.
* Fatigue Design.
* Good and bad welds – how to recognise.
* Weld terminology.
* Joints in theory – joints in practise.
* Fatigue classification
* Constant amplitude - variable amplitude loading.
* Fatigue damage and miners rule.
* Typical weld details in carbody.
* How to enhance fatigue performance.
* XLC Spreadsheet - Fatigue Calculation.
* Quiz - Fatigue Design
Design of Mechanical Fasteners Module
* Analysis of Preloaded Joints
* Why bolt pretension is so important.
* The mechanics of a bolted joint.
* What can go wrong with a preloaded joint.
* Bolted joint diagrams.
* Thermal effects.
* Differences bolting steel and aluminium.
* Preload fatigue benefits.
* Fatigue strength of bolted joints.
* Why we like hook bolts.
* Lockbolt Products.
* Fitting Hookbolts.
* Vibration Performance - Bolt vs. Hookbolt.
* XLC Spreadsheet - Preloaded Joints.
* Quiz - Preloaded Fasteners.
Understanding Finite Element Analysis Module (1/2 day) - De-mystify the black art of finite element analysis, understand what it is and how it can be used.
* How FEA fits into the design process.
* Understanding FEA reports.
* Designing for static strength.
* How to model bolted joints.
* How to interpret FEA stress results.
* Designing for fatigue strength.
* Designing for stiffness.
* Designing for shock and vibration.
Behaviour of Metallic Materials Module
* Introduction to the Tensile Test
* True Stress and True Strain
* The stress-strain curve
* Elastic Region
* Yielding
* Strain Hardening
* Necking and Failure
* Determination of Yield Strength in Ductile Materials
* Brittle and Ductile Behaviour
* Work Hardening
* Failure Analysis
* Quiz
Strain Gauge Testing Module (1/2 day) - The black art of strain gauging made simple. Learn about strain gauge testing and how to understand, set up an use a strain gauge system using your PC for under $1500.
* What is a strain gauge?
* How does it work?
* Wheatstone bridge.
* Strain gauge theory.
* Playing with a real life strain gauge.
* Quiz
Aluminium Engineering Module (1 day) - Understand and learn how to work with aluminium and reduce the weight of your products.
* Compare aluminium properties with steel.
* Changing Properties
* Crystal structure & grain size
* Heat treatment, cold working & ageing.
* Effect of welding on material properties.
* Effect of alloying elements on material properties.
* The aluminium Series.
* History and Development of Aluminium Structures.
* Impact of extrusion technology.
* Impact of subassembly technology.
* Benefits for rail transportation.
* Corrosion protection technologies.
* Meeting current design standards.
* Stiffness and buckling.
* Impact strength & crashworthiness.
* The extrusion process – Dies, Size Limitations, accuracy & forming.
* Storage & handling.
* Welding – Minimising distortion quality, inspection & defects.
* Machining.
* Painting.
* Quiz (1 day) - Learn how to fasten steel and aluminium joints and avoid problems associated with joint slip, joint loosening and joint failure. (1/2 day) - Learn about the tensile test and the behaviour of metallic materials (such as steel and aluminium) when they are subjected to uniaxial tension.
Failure Investigation Module (1 day) - What happens when something breaks in service? How do we understand what has happened? How do we mitigate against future failures? How do we make sure it never happens again?
* Understand loads: inertia loads, resonance, other loads
* What are your responsibilities when something falls off?
* Documentation of Incident
* Compliance with Standards
* Risk Assessment
* Risk Mitigation Actions
* Long Term Repair Actions
* Legal Responsibilities
* Methods of Assessment
* Strength Assessment
* Fatigue Assessment and Welding
* Assessments of Bolts
* Finite Element Methods
* Fracture Mechanics Assessment
* Dynamic Assessment
* Assessment of Composite Materials
* Metallurgical Examination
* Experimental Methods
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Design of Construction Equipment
Volvo Training - The ‘Design of Construction Equipment’ is a 5 day course last delivered in the beautiful town of Belley in the French Alps. Twelve engineers from Volvo travelled from France, Poland, Germany and India to attend the 5 day course. Volvo had selected a number of ExcelCalcs training modules plus asked me to write some specifically for Volvo. I was pleased to receive some very positive feedback for both the training and XLC. The attendees expressed how XLC spreadsheets helped to explain the physical principles without getting bogged down by the maths. Understanding is gained (and retained) by observing the effect of changing input parameters.
Monday
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Introduction to the course
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ExcelCalcs & XLC
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Material Selection Presentation
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Material Selection XLC Exercise
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Material Selection Quiz
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Failure Criteria XLC Exercise
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Failure Criteria Quiz
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Steel Metallurgy Presentation
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Steel Metallurgy Quiz
Tuesday
Wednesday
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Design of Welds Presentation
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Welding Quiz
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Strength of welds presentation
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XLC Static Strength of welds
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Volvo FEA
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Fatigue Design Presentation
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XLC Fatigue Calculations
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Fatigue Quiz
Thursday
Friday
 The ExcelCalcs Day-Tripper Course
Don't forget the Day-Tripper courses. This is a great option for all those people who say “Yeah ExcelCalcs and XLC look great… but I am too busy to learn”. Sign up for the ExcelCalcs tour and we'll get you up and running with XLC and show you around the best content on the site in a single day.
You can arrange for a private group from your own organisation or you can attend one of our scheduled events.
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