Excelcalcs has a passion for 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 preferences for:

Content: Select a course outline from the modules below and specify if you would like the course to be customised towards a particular industry or particular requirement.

Location: Courses can be arranged at your site or at a convenient hotel.

Number of Attendees: Indicate how many will attend.

Cost - Typically the cost of a course is 6000 USD per day plus expenses for up to 30 participants (200 USD per person).

Why not discuss your own particular requirements with us and we can tailor a course for your specific needs too?

Volvo Training - I was delighted to deliver the ‘Design of Construction Equipment’ course 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

Introduction to the course
ExcelCalcs & XLC
Material Selection Presentation
Material Selection XLC Exercise
Material Selection Quiz
Failure Criteria XLC Exercise
Failure Criteria Quiz
Steel Metallurgy Presentation
Steel Metallurgy Quiz

Tuesday

XLC Exercise Pin and Lug
Analysis of Preloaded Joints
Videos
XLC Exercise
Huck Bolts
Bolting Quiz
Discussion Volvo Bolting Case Studies

Wednesday

Design of Welds Presentation
Welding Quiz
Strength of welds presentation
XLC Static Strength of welds
Volvo FEA
Fatigue Design Presentation
XLC Fatigue Calculations
Fatigue Quiz

Thursday

Designing for Impact and Dynamic loads.
XLC Impact & Dynamics
Impact & Dynamics Quiz
Structural Testing
‘Hands On’ Structural Testing

Friday

Failure Investigations Presentation
Course Summary
Examination & Certificates

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 (http://www.morevision.org/elearning/). 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 (1 day) - Learn how to fasten steel and aluminium joints and avoid problems associated with joint slip, joint loosening and joint failure.
* 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 anlalysis, 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 (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.
* 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

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